[T3] fuel pump problem?

[Jim Adney]

On 24 Dec 2012 at 23:02, Terrie Ann Schmearer wrote:

> I'm having trouble with my FI Fastback. It started cutting out when
> accelerating uphill. It only seemed to happen when the gas tank got
> down to 1/4 tank. Later on 1/3 tank. Yesterday I was trying to drive
> up a long hill and it started at 1/2 tank and I could hear a loud
> whining noise coming from the front luggage compartment.

The whining noise is probably the fuel pump laboring because the 
filter preceeding it is clogged. The pumps always make a bit of a 
whine, but it's never audible unless there's a problem. The filters 
don't ever get clogged unless the overflow hose, next to the filler 
pipe is cracked and has been letting dirt into the tank. You can also 
get water in the tank from wheelspray when driving in wet weather.

Your old gas sending unit probably failed due to water in the gas 
tank. Otherwise, they last forever.

The overflow hoses are always cracked by now. I make and sell kits to 
repair this NLA (no longer available) part. The kits run from $25 to 
$32, depending on the year. Every FI car needs this kit unless you've 
already fixed this problem somehow. This is a DIY installation if 
you're reasonably handy.

What year is your Fasty?

You will need to replace the filter and probably also clean out the 
filter screen in the tank outlet. To do that, you'll need to drain 
the tank, but that will also let you see what else is in there with 
the gasoline.

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Jim Adney, jadney at vwtype3.org
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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