Hi, new guy here. Hate this to be my first post but here goes. Reference car is a 2003 Golf TDI.
I changed the air filter, oil and fuel filter today. This being my first diesel car I didn't know to purge the lines of air before starting. After tryng to start it a few times I get on this site and see what I did wrong. I fill up the filter with some fresh diesel and it starts. I drove it to Home Depot and it wouldn't restart after I got back out. I walked home and got my truck, can of diesel and some tools. After getting no where back filling the lines, I figured my problem was in the pump itself. I bought a bicycle style pump and hooked the suction side to the line off of the T. After a lot of pumping on it, it still does not start. No stumble or anything and now the battery is starting to get drained to where it is not cranking as hard as it did.
I am at a loss as to what to do next after this frustrating adventure.
Tow it, is it manual? If so then tow it, I had to do that to eventually get my car running properly after the fuel gauge lied to me and I ran dry of diesel. It might need a bit of a run to really get the fuel going again but it should be alright. It might also be worth checking that T connection thing on the return line that plugs into the filter, they can go bad and also worth replacing the o rings for it too. If you can't tow it or don't want to then loosen the fuel lines on the tops of the injectors and jump it or make sure the battery at least has a really god charge. Once the fuel starts spurting out you can tighten the lines or if it's anything like mine it'll start and you can tighten the lines while the engine's running lol. That one suprised me for sure.
Hi, thanks for the quick reply. Unfortunately I did have to settle for an auto though I did want a stick car when I was shopping. I didn't replace the o rings at first but I did change them later. That connection feels a little loose and I am not sure if that was normal or if air is getting in through there.
I think the battery was just too low to fire it last night. I was too cold and frustrated to get the cables out. Today was colder than after the sun went down last night but the sun was out so it wasn't as bad. I got it to stumble on the second crank and after a cool down it fired on the third. Thanks for your help.
So I got it started yesterday and took it for a few laps around the neighborhood. Shut it off, waited several minutes and it restarted without hesitation. Went to get in it to goto work a few hours later and it wouldn't start. I didn't have time to toy with it so I took my truck. Today I primed it more to where I am getting steady streams of diesel out every time and it still is not starting. Do I need to bleed it at the injectors?
Is the glow plug light coming on as normal? if not it could be the 109 relay playing up but other than that there must be a leak somewhere and air's getting in or the fuel's seeping back to the tank. Maybe that t piece is dodgy.
I vote for a leak at the T valve on the top of the filter or a fuel line that is loose or has a small air leak, I did have defective fuel filter one time that acted almost the same way.
Is the glow plug light coming on as normal? if not it could be the 109 relay playing up but other than that there must be a leak somewhere and air's getting in or the fuel's seeping back to the tank. Maybe that t piece is dodgy.
I vote for a leak at the T valve on the top of the filter or a fuel line that is loose or has a small air leak, I did have defective fuel filter one time that acted almost the same way.
I suspected the O-rings leaking because the T fits somewhat loose. I changed them and it still seems the same. I am not sure if this is normal. I did buy a filter to get those O-rings so I could swap that one in or the old one.
It isn't worth while to bleed the injectors at the B nuts?
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