fuel system problem? help!

[MK2ph]

my car is parked for two weeks already since it died on me. i drove it all day that day and noticed that my car is having problems already when idling -- it always dies from time to time especially on low revs. and when im about to go home, the car wouldn't start anymore. i heard something though when i turned on the car, like a silent click or knock not knowing where it came from. to cut the story short, its on my friends garage right now.

my first step was to make sure that all the fuses are working, then checked the plugs. replaced ignition coil, still isnt working. replaced the knock sensor since we found out that the old one was worn out already, still isnt working. then i found out that the air hoses were dirty up to the manifold, cleaned it. still isnt working. then did a compression test on it, everything was around 140-150. then finally, did a fuel pressure test, and scored a 50 psi.

now im guessing that the problem is somewhere on the fuel system. because when we are spraying gas inside the manifold, it starts for a couple of seconds then dies again. it seems like theres something restricting the fuel to get in.

anyone of you guys had similar problems? any answers will mean a lot! thanks!

[Smiff]

Can't help you without details on the car. Year and model, engine/trans, any modifications to engine or just stock? Do you have a Bentley?

[MK2ph]

Can't help you without details on the car. Year and model, engine/trans, any modifications to engine or just stock? Do you have a Bentley?

yep sorry, 89 gti with 16valver, no mods so far.

[Smiff]

Your fuel system is CISe. The Bentley manual gives pretty detailed instructions on troubleshooting that system. Main thing you can do is pull all of the injectors (still attached to the hoses) and do a spray test into a bucket by pulling the fuel pump fuse and inserting a jumper wire in the socket (specific pins noted in the manual). This will determine whether you are actually getting fuel to the ports through the injectors. Several other procedures to back that one up, all in the book.

This info is all based on the fact that you state you have decent fuel pressure, which should indicate your pump is fine.

[MK2ph]

Your fuel system is CISe. The Bentley manual gives pretty detailed instructions on troubleshooting that system. Main thing you can do is pull all of the injectors (still attached to the hoses) and do a spray test into a bucket by pulling the fuel pump fuse and inserting a jumper wire in the socket (specific pins noted in the manual). This will determine whether you are actually getting fuel to the ports through the injectors. Several other procedures to back that one up, all in the book.

This info is all based on the fact that you state you have decent fuel pressure, which should indicate your pump is fine.

Thank you sir. Bentley already in transit, I know i shouldve invested on it a long time ago. Damn it.

Anyway, while i'm patiently waiting for the holy bible of vw repair to arrive, i was tweeking things in my bay and i am tracing where the fuel is being restricted. First, i removed the fuel regulator (the little gray box that is screwed on the distributor head) and tried to see if it is functioning. i jumped a wire from the battery straight to the regulator and i didnt hear any clicking sound. Is this a sign that the regulator is already faulty?

Then the second thing i did was to loosen all the fuel lines on the head and found out that all of the four outlets were not releasing fuel as it should. I removed the distributor head and tried to clean it with carb cleaner, hoping that its just grime or dirt stucked on outlets. After cleaning it, i snapped the head back and cranked up the engine, then found out that this time, there were already three outlets that were releasing fuel, and there is only one outlet thats not doing its job. Could this cause the engine to not totally start at all? Even if the other three outlets were already working well? (assuming that all the fuel lines were not clogged and releasing the gas to the injectors)

[Smiff]

Have you checked for vacuum leaks?