[T3] Car Cures Itself...

Jim Adney jadney at vwtype3.org
Wed Jun 26 20:33:20 PDT 2013


On 26 Jun 2013 at 17:38, J. Jonik wrote:

> By the way, it SEEMS that if I prime the fuel pump about five or so
> times before trying to start, THEN it works ok from the start....most
> (not all) of the time.  

In that case, I recommend that you install one of my priming kits. It 
just consists of a switch, bracket, wires and instructions that allow 
you to run the pump without wear to the starter or ignition switch. 
Price is $10 for MT and $11 for AT, plus shipping.

You get in the car, turn the key ON, and press the button to run the 
pump. Hold the button down until you no longer hear bubbles coming up 
in the gas tank. Then release the button and start the engine.

I don't understand why this happens, but an engine that's shut down 
hot and allowed to sit, will get air in the fuel ring around the 
engine. Until the air is all gone, the cylinders won't all run well, 
and you may have to crank the engine longer to keep the pump running 
long enough to get fuel to the first injectors. This is unnecessary 
wear on the starter and battery.

With the priming button, you can listen and hear the bubbles come up 
in the tank, and it's amazing how much comes out. All my Type 3s have 
the priming button. It saves a lot of time and hassle.

Another thing you might consider is that you might have a fuel filter 
that's clogged. If that's the case, it would take longer for the pump 
to build up pressure and force the air out. It can also mean that the 
pump never gets up to full pressure with the engine under load. When 
the engine is running, the pump should just sound like a soft whine. 
If it seems loud or like it's laboring, try replacing the filter.  

Clogged filters are common if the overflow hose is (or was) cracked, 
as this is the way dirt and water gets into the fuel system.

You can also check this with a pressure gauge attached to the fuel 
ring so you (or someone) can see it while driving. The pressure 
should be constant any time the engine is running. If it drops when 
the engine is given extra load, as in while driving and accelerating, 
the first thing to suspect is a clogged fuel filter.

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