84 Rabbit vert: Engine fires but won't stay running

[garlinto]

Hi all! I first want to say that I've read a number of the threads here and have already learned a lot about my Rabbit. Looking forward to learning more!

Last night, I topped off the fuel tank and headed home. I think I over-filled the tank, since I had some gas dripping out of the gas filler. (guess I should have just went and got my $1.90 back instead of trying to squeeze it all into the tank). Car started normally and made it the 25 miles home without any problems. Smelled some fuel on my way home but just thought that maybe some of the fuel had splashed onto my pants.

This morning, I tried to start the car but it wouldn't stay running. It'll fire and act like it's starting up, but then quickly dies. So it seems that it's not getting fuel. And if I continue to try and start the car, I smell gas, though I can't smell any from outside of the car and can't tell where it's coming from.

Also, if I let the starter continue to crank, I can hear the idle speed boost relay click in and out, almost like a flasher relay does. In fact, I had thought I left my turn signal on, but it was off.

Any ideas? Would the fuel pump quit just like that? One day it works, and the next it doesn't?

Thanks in advance for any advice....

I have a Bently's manual but I don't quite know where to start. I am quite mechanically inclined, but am new to VWs.

[garlinto]

Ok, just tried bypassing the fuel pump relay by placing a jumper between terminals 31 and 87 in the fuse block. The fuel pump turned on, so I'm going to *assume* it's working correctly.

Should I try cleaning the plunger in the fuel distribution center? Maybe I'll do that anyway, since with as many miles as this car has on it, I'm sure it'll need it anyway.

Is there anything else I should look at?

[garlinto]

Update:

Just finished cleaning the fuel distributor...wow! What a mess! It was really dirty with a lot of varnish and other stuff on the plunger and in the air box. However, I put it back together and still no dice. It'll fire up like it wants to start but then die. I can kind of get it to pop a few times with the starter still cranking if I feather the throttle a little but I can't get it to run and idle.

Oh, and I think the relay I keep hearing click on and off is for the start valve at the end of the intake manifold.

Any ideas as to what I'm experiencing? Any of you gone through this before?

[briano1234]

have you replaced the fuel filter?, gas smell is possibly a bad rubber line. Also have you checked the timing?

The filler neck on the dub is prone to rust rot, so you might want to check it out.

And depending on if you have a full sized spare tire, or a baby donut you may have one or 2 fuel pumps in that model year.

Fuel pumps go out all the time, they get intermittent then fullmittent.


I am not a CIS person at all, but the idle boost valve is probably acting correctly.

[garlinto]

have you replaced the fuel filter?, gas smell is possibly a bad rubber line. Also have you checked the timing?

Thanks for the advice! Gonna check on those things today. As badly varnished as the fuel distributor was, I'm sure the fuel filter doesn't look pretty either.

My rabbit does have a spare tire in the 'trunk' area, so does that mean I have two fuel pumps or one?

Was also reading elsewhere that I could have a bad ignition switch as well, since my instrument cluster lights are giving me fits. It looks like I have a number of issues to sort out.

[briano1234]

Full sized spare tire regular tire from your car...= ( no in-tank pump).

Space-saver spare Donut tire that is rated at 55mph or less and gives you that gangsta lean= (in-tank pump).

[kenrabbit]

Garlinto:

what did you use, how did you clean your fuel distributor? I'm sure mine may be bad but someone told me if i take it apart that i will not be able to get gasket(s); was it easy? thanks

[kenrabbit]

was it easy to clean?

[Cleve]

Garlinto, did you check for spark? It could simply be a bad rotor/cap, or ignition coil, or a loose wire. The fact you can smell gas (provided nothing's leaking from the fuel injection plumbing) makes me think it's a spark issue.

If you've got spark, I would check fuel pressure - make sure it's adequate. 75 PSI is normal for the Bosch K-Jetronic I believe. Just because the fuel pump is running doesn't necessarily mean the pressure is adequate.

[gsxrspannkya1]

you are absolutly right about the ignition switch. Run a jumper wire from the positive terminal on your battery to the orange wire on your coil and try to start it then.