*** FUEL PUMP FLOODS ENGINE *** UPDATE

(1982 Yplate GTi)

the problem is as above,

i have got the later fuse box and at the minute there is a cable which leads directly from the fuel pump straight to the box where it is touching the top pin of the fuel pump relay. so, the pump kicks in and "hums" on the 2nd turn of the key and then fires up.

the problem is though is because it is bridged it keeps pumping the petrol through which makes it run rich (it stinks!!!) and drink the juice. then after 20 to 30 minutes it starts to "pop" and dies. then it takes about 5 to 6 hours to settle before it will start again.

keep in mind i bought this car with that bridge not noticing it. a VW "specialist" (self claimed!) told me i needed a new fuel pump relay and fusebox. but when i came to fit this i still had/have no idea where the cable that is bridged is supposed to go!!!

ANY and i mean ANY help will be more than welcome.

thanks

Bren

Don't think its the pump flooding the engine mate…

Once the engine is fired, the pump runs continuously anyway, so there would be no difference. Mine is set up similar to yours as I had probs with the correct set up and I have no problems once its running.

Sounds more like the mixture settings on the Metering head, or, the metering head itself could be knackered.

Yeah - I'd support al's comments - I f running rich from start up could be a whole host of things:

Mixture
Cold start Injector running continuously
Warm up regulator
System pressure regulator setting
etc
etc

Cheers

Rich

cheers for the suggestions lads. couldn't believe this garage owner, i'm no mechanic but he said he was a veedub specialist, what else can you do apart from believe him???

what i said before wasn't what i thought, it was his EXACT words.

i'm not sure about the best way of checking out the bits and pieces you've told me. sorry to seem as if i'm pestering but could you give me a few pointers at all??

thanks

Bren

bren,

Get yourself a haynes manual as it covers most of this work in detail

Mixture - screw on top of metering head - Get gunson's colour tune for about ?15 to help you
Cold start Injector running continuously - Haynes covers testing this - basically that the injector off and pint into a jar - when engine is cold crank the engine and then stop without turning ignition off - injector shoud squirt for 8 secs or so.
Warm up regulator - can only be tested with a system pressure guage - get a book on this subject and a test kit or get it to a bosch approved garage.
System pressure regulator setting - same as above

If you find that is all too much for you get the car to a bosch approved garage to do a system test and tue of the whole engine - will cost about ?150+parts

Cheers

Rich

got my new metering head today for ?25, not too bad, am fitting tomorrow. let you know how it goes

evening

fitted the metering head today.  afterwards i went to start the car and it made a squeaking noise as the fuel pump kicked in like an air leak?   it wouldn't fire up and then on the 3rd time of trying to start it the engine just stopped.
by that i mean on the 2nd turn off the key the fuel pump turns on then on the 3rd ignition turn its just not interested - as if there's no power. thought the battery could be flat so i put on the spare but no luck the engine won't turn at all.  :dontknow:

any suggestions again? fuel is getting through i checked  BUT it won't turn. let me know.

once again ANY help or advice is more than welcome

Bren

What the engine will not turn on the starter?

Get a spanner on the crank nut and see if it is free.  If not check cam beat or any thing else that might stop the motor turning.

If free check starter for operation and test wiring.

Cheers

Rich

at first the engine turned but wouldn't fire, after usual checks + the ones to make sure i hadn't left something off during the work, i tried again - no luck. i then changed the battery for a freshly charged one because on the 3rd attempt the engine wouldn't turn or fire so i thought i had drained the it.

before i wheeled it back into the garage i tried one more time and the only way to describe the noise is…….. it sneezed (i'm not crazy!!!   )
then nothing.

all i have done today is exchange the metering head, i haven't touched anything else. hope this makes it a bit clearer matey. its difficult trying to explain problems on the web rather than because it makes sense to me but not always to other people, know what i mean?

thanks hope to hear from everybody soon  :wink:

Bren

Bren - so is the engine free to turn or locked up so that it can't?

free to turn mate, just went out there to try again. this time it turned but didn't fire

This happened to me mate when I changed the metering head. I had an inline fuse in the power to the Fuel Pump - It kept blowing it. I hope you have a fuse on yours (As you said it was hard wired, bypassing the relay). Hopefully this is all it is, otherwise you may have popped some thing else.

Where did you get the metering head from, what car is it off?
The one I tried on mine was off a Mk3 16v. Although they all look the same, they have different internal settings etc. I think the flow rate must have been set differently causing the pump to do to much/little work making the fuse pop.

Check the bosch tag on the metering unit. If it is not exactly the same as your old one, then it is likely that it will not work.
The mk1 1.6 Gti used one type.
The mk1 1.8 and early mk2 1.8 Gti's both used the same one I think, the mk2 16v's and newer used a third type.
By type, I mean, different part numbers, hence something is obviously different within!

By the way, the squeeling noise was just the system being pressurised with fuel. It will make that noise the next time you swap it out too, so don't worry.

Hope that helps,
AL.

watcha

i've checked out the model numbers the old one is:-

0438120189
049133353AA

and the new one is:-

0438120035
049133353J

you are right Al, they look exactly the same but are different model numbers. i got it off of a local bloke who specialises in mk1's mk2's and Scirocco's.

what do you reckon? is it off a mk2 16v????

let me know ANYBODY!!!!

Bren

I think it is the 0491 numbers that change between the models, with the Letters denoting different parts. Looks like you need another with AA on the end?

Did you get a chance to see if your Pump +ve was fused?

where abouts would i check to see if they are fused? and are you sure that this squeaking sound is nothing to worry about? it never did it before.

thanks matey

Bren

OK - You said there was a cable running from the fuse box, directly to the pump - See if there is an inline fuse anywhere in this wire. If not, then it aint fused!

To check if there is still power coming through this cable, take an old headlight bulb or something. Attach two wires to it using a couple of spade connectors. Attach one wire to the positive terminal of the fuel pump and earth the other on the shell somewhere. (You could of coures use a multimeter, otherwise this "Bulb-Bodge" is fine!). turn on the ignition - If the bulb lights and the pump doesn't buzz, then you've got a knackered pump (Which a fuse could have saved - I'd fit one if there isn't one there!)!

Did you take the pump off and check to see if there was a filter in the back?

right, well mate it definatley isn't fused and hasn't been since i got it (uh-oh!)   ops:

i haven't taken out the pump and checked the filter because i thought if i'm changing the metering head i see if this solves the problem 1st.

the fuel pump is definately still pumping petrol through, i checked that. so i'm guessing that this means there's power getting to it???

just to summarise the problem so far:-

got the car back after bottom end "rebuild"
started 1st time everytime as long as the engine was cold, as soon as it got hot it didn't want to know. running very rich.
changed the metering head, wont start at all.

hope this covers the problem so far for everyone else.

let me know what you think Al, thanks for your help so far BTW  

OK - If you're sure the pump is still workin - Fuse it!

So - You have fuel (how did you check this? Have you pulled an injector out to see if it is spraying?)
Are you getting a spark?

hello al

thats exactly how i checked it mate, also at the front of the block.
the plugs are sparking. i will fuse the fuel pump asap, but how come if it hasn't been fused all this time it would be affecting it now? if it is fuse and i have missed it somewhere what else could it be mate?

AND WHAT IS THAT POXY SQUEAKING SOUND????!!!!  

could the squeaking be the reason it isn't starting? air leak, dodgy vacuum? something along those lines?

speak soon

Have you still got that new metering head on or did you swap it back to the old one?