Odd starting problem

[psidtsi]

On occasion my car won't start. It's a 1990 TSI AWD with a Walbro 255lph pump. The car has it's days when it starts up with little or no problem. On other days it doesn't start at all. There has been occasions when the car has wanted to start and although tempermental with a little touch of the throttle pedal it kicks. Any easy first steps to take as far as diaging this. I just got the car and want to get it running right. Thanks.

 

[Eclipsed]

http://www.dsm.org/how-tos/JFM/HotStart.html

Try some of the tips there.

When was the walbro 255 put in? My Spyder used to have the exact same problem starting up, but after a week it some how cured itself. You might be most likely having problems with fuel pressure. Some DSMs do have problems with the walbro 255 without an after market fuel pressure regulator.

If you are clueless as to whats going on from here, try to replace the fuel pump with a stock one. I have a buddy who has one laying around if you need one.

 

[psidtsi]

I know the deal. I'd assume the pump's been in there for a while. I have the stock one as well. I bought the car as it is with receipts and such. I can hear the Walbro(very audible) when the key is turned. I've never had any problems with the 255s before, I've had them in several DSMs. I'm a little puzzled with this problem. Mainly because last night it would not start for anything, today, fired right up. Thanks for any help.

 

[psidtsi]

I drove the car for appx an hour the other day and when I turned it off it wouldn't start. I pushed it, pop started it and it ran no problem. Also, took forever to start today, seems to want to kick, just takes forever to finally turn over.

 

[eclipse90gsxt]

Mine car did this same thing after my walbro install for some reason. I checked for leaks, but there was none. My car usually takes awhile to start when cold, hot starting it starts right up.

 

[2GeNTSi]

Oh good thought I was the only one this happened to. I installed the 190 on my car today, and I tried starting it but it wouldn't. I've always had problems starting the car randomly and usually all I would have to do is reset the ecu and it would start right up.

Today though after I installed the pump, I tried starting it but nothing. It would even crank, the lights just went dim after I tried to start it. Reset the ecu, nothing still. Decided to get another battery to jump it, and it worked right away, cranked a little slow though. I went for a test drive and then came back home. Later on I tried starting it again, and it wouldn't crank...again. Sooo I jumped it again and it started on the first try. At this time I'm pretty sure that it has nothing to do with the fuel system so I decide to go to Autozone and buy a Optima Redtop battery. When I get there I ask if I'd be able to return it if I put it in and my car doesn't start, the guy said no, the only way that would work is if he tested my battery first. I've had the battery tested by friends and my dad and it would read fine with the car off and it would charge while idling so everything seemed fine. And as I thought after the guy tested the battery, it got good results. He said he could charge it so I let him do it being I was there anyways so what the hell.

Twenty minutes later the battery is charged, I install it and it starts right up. I shut it off and it starts again fine. I then drove home and move all the cars back where they were because I used the garage to install the pump, moved my bros vr-4 back in the garage to be worked on some more. After all that I moved my car last and one more time it started fine. Hopefully it'll start tomorrow, I'm going to change the battery soon anyways, might be able to get an Optima one for free. I checked for leaks while I let the car idle and there were none on the fuel line next to the tank, none up top near the assembly so everything is put in properly.

 

[psidtsi]

Keep me informed. If all it needs is a batery that's great. The guy said the battery was good, but we know how that goes. There is times it will start up after sitting a while and then no luck after it ran. Which didn't' make sense to me because after sitting I figured the battery would have less of a chance to start it. Then, after driving when the alternator gives the battery a charge, I figured that would fire right up. Sometimes it's the opposite. I'm lost.

 

[OnABudget]

im in a hurry, but iver got the same problem, where i need to reset the ecu.
does this mean ecu is bad? i checked capacitors--they look fine.
keep this thread going, it helps mer think.
ill keep it updated too.

 

[OnABudget]

im going to send my ecu to get it rebuilt and ill let you all know how that works sometime next week-

 

[OnABudget]

hey if anyone is interested, i got my ecu rebuilt at zeitronix it took them a while but was worth it. My car starts up everytime, idle is normal again, and i can redline, except when i hit fuel cut, but thats a different issue.
btw, my capacitors werent leaking, so dont overlook the ecu if youre having any similar problems.

 

[2GeNTSi]

Yeah this actually happened on my brothers 3/S VR4 as well, my dad tried replacing the caps on the ecu as well but upon reinstalling it, it still didn't start. We brought it up to Ranch Cordova in Sac, the guy said right ont he spot "yeah I can tell it needs replacing." I thought he was bs'ing my brother but we didn't know what else it would've been since we already replaced the ignition control module and checked the coil.

So we got it tested and remanafactured, brought it back and it started fine. It's been a couple of months and we haven't had the problem since.