87 jetta problem, need help

[krisvw]

Hi,

I am a vw person from way back. I have only played with air cooled dubs though. I currently have no car (just a boring suv), but am looking at trading my suv for an 87 jetta. It is a 2 door wolfsburg edition 5speed 1.8l. The car is having a problem starting. It is random, doesn't matter if the motor is cold or hot. The motor cranks but won't start. He replaced the fuel pump. The car runs excellent when it starts. I have to have a good daily driver as I am supporting my 4 month old daughter, so want to try to figure out if this is something simple or something I don't want to mess with. Does anyone have any input on what may be causing this problem? He says the problem is random and the time it takes for the car to set before it starts is also random.

Thanks,

Kris

[krisvw]

bump, really need some input on this one, so ready to be back in a vw car again.

[WaterWheels]

. . . looking at trading my suv for an 87 jetta. It is a 2 door wolfsburg edition . . . The car is having a problem starting. It is random, doesn't matter if the motor is cold or hot. The motor cranks but won't start. . . The car runs excellent when it starts. . . so want to try to figure out if this is something simple or something I don't want to mess with.

Bottom line up front, it is most likely not a real big issue(repair). If an engine runs fine when started but has trouble starting it is often just a problem with the cold start system or sensors the ECU uses for input. So in my opinion the problem should not be very hard or expensive to correct.

One question which looms is this trade. Are the two cars in your opinion equal in valve, are you getting or paying a cash difference or are you just thinking the savings in the long run will balance things out? I ask because it might be wise to have the seller (trader) run the car past a dealer (better dealer then local shop) for an opinion or estimate before making the deal. Sure it could be that he has to pay a few buck, most times they will at least look for free, but the details you can work out with him/her. I once did this and told the person if the results are OK, as in the repair is low, then I would pay the cost of the estimate. Then there is the Wolfsburg thing. DO NOT let this be a selling point (spelled increase in price) as they are no different engine/transmission/body wise and it is just a trim package. If you can find a car for less that runs and looks better buy that instead and slap a badge on the fenders.

[krisvw]

Thank you for your input. I am not really worried about value, as I think they are close enough that I will come out the better in the end by getting rid of my 16mpg and having something fun to drive. What sensors etc are common to make the car not want to start? I doubt that the car will go to a shop before a trade as my suv needs tires, window motor etc... so it will be a vehicle as is for vehicle as is trade. HE did put a Walbro 225 fuel pump on the car. Will this cause any issues with the fuel pressure etc? Again, thanks for you input, any info that can get me thinking this car out is very very helpful.

[WaterWheels]

. . . HE did put a Walbro 225 fuel pump on the car. Will this cause any issues with the fuel pressure etc? Again, thanks for you input, any info that can get me thinking this car out is very very helpful.

That's a rather disturbing bit of information. I have never bought a Walbro pump, never used one and don't intend to ever either. I have seen some adds and read some information about them and it seems they sell two basic versions in two variations. There is a low pressure and high pressure and I believe they come in two volume outputs for each pressure version. A 225 figure I have only seen listed as the volume output, 225 liters per hour, so which pressure it is I can't say, but that does not matter really. The low pressure is for carburator engines and the "high" pressure is made for EFI engines. So high pressure is going to be around 45psi I would guess and far to low to run a CIS engine which uses an 80+psi pump. To me that is one important factor which could cause your starting woes.

There is more to using such a pump which is of concern. It does not fit or mate to the original fuel delivery system in any way shape or form. So what has been done? Accumulator deleted? How is the return part of the system rigged up? What's been jerry-rigged to get the pump to feed the engine? Does it even have an in-tank pump anymore?

[krisvw]

Good questions. I was a little weary when I heard about the aftermarket fuel pump. I should be in his area this weekend and am thinking I will just have to stop by to see what he did. I am guessing that it should have an in tank fuel pump and sending line and return line. Are there any other components that I should look at, or should look at if they are there? Do the cars have a crank sensor that could keep them from starting? Again, thanks for the help

[krisvw]

The fuel pump does mount outside of the tank. He said it is a 50 90 Walbro?? I have to check on this, doesn't sound right to have variable psi unless it does 90 and can be regulated back to 50 with a pressure regulator. He said that the car would not start so he put the fuel pump in and it started. He said he was planning on adding turbo to it so he went ahead and did the walbro for higher flow in prep for the turbo. The car doesn't have a fuel pressure gauge added to it so he is not sure what the pressure is. When it runs it runs well, so not starving for fuel when running at all.

[krisvw]

correction, he just let me know it is a 255 fuel pump not 225, not sure if this changes anything or not??