'95 TSI fuel/starting issues

[TSIflyer95]

Hey guys,

Yes I am new here, I have been searching but I just can't seem to find anything that is definitive.


I recently bought a '95 TSI with a 6 bolt swap. It has some mods too it. 1g rods, 2g pistons, he claims it has BC272's but I don't believe it as they are SUPER quiet, S-AFC, and it had a walbro 255 in it.

Well when I bought the car I knew it had an issue. I was pretty darn sure it was the fuel pump. He said it was about 2-3 years old and the problem was that when going into boost, around 5 PSI it would start to miss.

Well I was positive that it was the pump as my buddy was having the same issue in his car.

I took out the fuel pump and checked the filter, it was black as black gets. FILTHY. So I got a new one and then when trying to boost it would now go up to 12 psi then start missing.


So this is where I am at now:


I was driving today and the car just crapped out. It wouldn't stay running. If I got the car started and had about %50 throttle it would run but not idle. It would die out.

So I got my new 255 today. I was in the parking lot changing it where it broke down. The pressure line ripped so I replaced that.

Well now, with the BRAND NEW pump in, I turn the key, and the pump no longer primes, no noises, no nothing. I try to turn the car over. It turns over perfectly. But WILL NOT FIRE.

I am thinking the full pump relay shot due to over running the old pump. I am unsure.

I need help asap. This is the only car I have that is road worthy right now.


Also, I am newish to DSM. I work on cars a lot but have never owned a DSM.

 

[TSIflyer95]

That's the only thing I can think of. Which sucks cause I need to at least get the car back to my house.

 

[98spydereugene]

At least a new stock fpr from napa or autozone is cheap enough...your plugs are definitely dry fouled so there's no fuel getting into the cylinder...

 

[TSIflyer95]

Cools. I'll see about getting an fpr. And of course Autozone doesn't have my plugs in stock . I'm broke down 100 feet from them and they have nothing I need.

 

[98spydereugene]

your fuel pressure gauge is before you fpr though correct??If it's 0psi before it then that's probably not your problem, that's just all I can see spending any amount of money on without actually seeing voltage at the pump...

 

[GSXTasy005]

ok, if the pump turns on, then it's not necessarily wiring related. look for pinched lines. also, check your fuel filter, It could be too clogged to allow fuel to pass. disconnect the fuel feed line from the fuel rail and see if you're getting fuel to the fuel rail.

there should ALWAYS be some kind of fuel pressure if the pump is on, stop thinking about the end of the system, and check each component from the pump, towards the FPR. don't just assume it's your FPR.

you need to figure out where the fuel pressure stops. you chould spend a fortune replacing FPRs, and injectors, and spark plugs. only to find out it's a pinched line somewhere. CHECK EVERYTHING from the pump forward, to be sure there's nothing you're missing.

 

[Tyeler18]

The pump is obviously working just fine. Take off the high pressure side of the fuel line (the line that connects to the rail on the filter side) now crank the motor over, fuel coming out?

Along the recirculative thing, I'd make sure that you recirculate it. Your friend may not have had noticeable issues, but running rich like that is detrimental to the life of the engine. It bogs down because it's going pig ass rich when you shift, you'll only benefit by recirculating it.

Edit: Beat to it by gsxtasy

 

[98spydereugene]

Ya I'd bet fuel filter at this point as well after all thats been said and done...0psi at the gauge means somethings stopping that fuel...fuel filter's really cheap too..

 

[TSIflyer95]

Fuel filter is brand new. At least the one on the pump. Is there an inline filter on this car? And I'm limited to what I can do on the car here because I'm in the middle of a parking lot.

I broke down and called a tow truck. I'm gonna have my shop look at it. I've tried everything. New pump that works fine, new filter, new plugs and wires.

Like you said I don't want to keep buying stuff if that's not really the problem. So I'm going to have my guy diagnose the problem and if it's easy I'll do it. If it's something i don feel like doing I'll pay him to do it . I just don't have the time to keep messing with it. I need at least one of my cars running.

 

[98spydereugene]

Sorry to hear that, you'll have to post up what was wrong or PM me, I'm interested to hear the final conclusion...

 

[TSIflyer95]

Well the way my life works is it's either some waaaaaay easy that I just over looked, or it's something completely different and difficult that I wouldn't have even thought about.

I really do appreciate all of your help guys. Definitely a good first impression on this place .

 

[98spydereugene]

Good luck with it...

 

[GSXTasy005]

for the record, there IS an inline fuel filter on these cars. if you remove the battery and battery tray, it should be plainly visible, and easy to access. it's located against the firewall, just follow the fuel rail feed line down, and you can't miss it

BE SURE TO POST WHAT WAS WRONG!!! that way you can mark this thread as resolved, and other DSMers who are searching the forums can get an idea of how to fix this problem, if they run across it. this isn't just a chat forum, there's valuable information in these pages, and alot of times, the most crucial piece of info is left off because the OP got the answer they wanted, and ignored those that helped.

 

[98spydereugene]

Huh??your describing fuel filter to me...

 

[Tyeler18]

He meant filter.

 

[98spydereugene]

I would hope so!

 

[GSXTasy005]

my bad, I did mean filter, not pump. I changed it

 

[98spydereugene]

Ya he said he's got a brand new one so I'd hope it isn't bad...depending on where he got it you never know...I figured you meant that I was just making sure...

 

[Tyeler18]

Ya he said he's got a brand new one so I'd hope it isn't bad...depending on where he got it you never know...I figured you meant that I was just making sure...

No, he said he has a new filter on the pump (sock), but not a new inline filter.

 

[98spydereugene]

ahh..thought he meant the actual filter...needs to change that out then...

 

[TSIflyer95]

I'm here now at the shop. The only thing we have found at the moment is the pressure line is crimped in 2 places. I couldn't see this from in the car as it's down near the sub frame.

But so far that's what we have seen. Let's keep fingers crossed that that is the only problem. I want to be able to boost this dang thing .

 

[98spydereugene]

That'll do it..good thing you found something...that should take care of it I would think

 

[TSIflyer95]

Okay so this is where I am at now.

We now have fuel, sort of...

The car still doesn't have pressure when off, I have to keep cranking the motor and it eventually starts.

Anyways, I am still having an intermittent issue. The only thing I can now think of is the fuel filter. I didn't change it. Only the one on the pump.

So tonight I will be changing the filter. Hopefully that takes care of everything. The car does start now and will idle, but once I drive it for a bit it starts missing.

Like I said, I'm gonna change the filter and then maybe run some seafoam or fuel cleaner through the gas.

 

[98spydereugene]

Still could be fuel pressure regulator, your walbro 255 could be overrunning it, change out that filter though and hopefully that takes care of it...at least its sort of alive now

 

[TSIflyer95]

yeah thats my main concern right now. I need to be able to drive it back and forth to work so I can make money so I can buy a afpr .

But if I can get this intermittent thing gone I'll be good. I can stay out of boost if I have to. I just need to drive it.

 

[98spydereugene]

Ya mine's down right now too, just a bad battery, fixing that tonight, luckily I live right next to my work or I'd be takin the bus...hopefully its something as cheap as a filter that'd be nice...you know how those lines got pinched??