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korfmach Samba Member
Joined: February 28, 2014 Posts: 247 Location: Fort Collins, CO
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Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2020 11:51 am Post subject: No start when parked nose-up; otherwise fine - SOLVED (I think) |
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Hi Everyone--van is an '89 2.1, stock other than Marco Mansi injectors. Engine runs fine under all circumstances; starts fine too except when I park nose-first in my driveway, which puts the front of the van about half a meter higher than the rear. If I let it sit an hour or two, it will crank but won't start.
I've seen a couple of other threads with sort-of similar problems, but none seemed definitive. I don't think it's an electrical/Hall sensor issue as the van runs and starts fine under all other circumstances, including going up steep slopes on highways or back roads. My thought is that it's a fuel issue of some sort. Anyone have any guesses? _________________ 1989 Westy
2016 Golf TSI
Gone, but not forgotten:
1974 Dorper Baywindow, "The Bleeding Trout"
1998 Jetta TDI, "Trixie"
1987 GTI, "Heike"
1974 Thing, "The Luftwaffel"
1974 Ghia
1966 Ghia
Last edited by korfmach on Thu Jan 14, 2021 3:04 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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DanHoug Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016 Posts: 4715 Location: Bemidji, MN
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Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2020 6:00 pm Post subject: Re: No start when parked nose-up; otherwise fine |
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aaaaand how much gas do you have in the tank when this is not starting? fill it up, then try it again. don't go by the gauge, just fill it and try. _________________ -dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com |
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4Gears4Tires Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2018 Posts: 2982 Location: MD
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Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 8:52 am Post subject: Re: No start when parked nose-up; otherwise fine |
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Shouldn't the FPR still hold pressure? Or does the van bleed pressure down over time and that's why it primes for 2 seconds each key ON turn?
I agree about the gas being the KISS solution. _________________ '87 Syncro
Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50254
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Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 9:11 am Post subject: Re: No start when parked nose-up; otherwise fine |
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Hook up a fuel pressure gauge and see how fast the pressure is dropping as you might have an injector that is leaking through and filling your intake with raw gas. The Bentley has a spec on how fast of a drop in pressure is acceptable.
Have you checked for spark? That is about the easiest place to start. |
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DuncanS Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2013 Posts: 4580 Location: New Hampshire
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Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 9:25 am Post subject: Re: No start when parked nose-up; otherwise fine |
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I like Wildthings post. It could be a wire that is loose and grounding out. A half meter height diff is far greater than you would experience driving as that is an 11% slope. |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17007 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 11:45 am Post subject: Re: No start when parked nose-up; otherwise fine |
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I would like to hear how it does with a completely full tank as well. While the outlet and return are on the back side, there is quite a bit of plumbing on the interior of the tank that might have an issue and it is allowing air to get drawn into the fuel pump inlet. _________________ ☮️ |
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korfmach Samba Member
Joined: February 28, 2014 Posts: 247 Location: Fort Collins, CO
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Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2020 8:40 am Post subject: Re: No start when parked nose-up; otherwise fine |
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All, thanks very much for your replies.
The FPR passes the idle and higher-rpm pressure tests (I think 28 and 34 psi, respectively) but I haven't checked it for maintaining pressure after shutoff. The pump does prime for a second or two on almost every start.
I'm starting to think it's a pressure bleed-down issue. Ordinarily when I start it, I turn the key immediately all the way to the "start" position. Next time I park on the incline, I'll let the pump fully prime before turning the key the rest of the way and see if that makes a difference. _________________ 1989 Westy
2016 Golf TSI
Gone, but not forgotten:
1974 Dorper Baywindow, "The Bleeding Trout"
1998 Jetta TDI, "Trixie"
1987 GTI, "Heike"
1974 Thing, "The Luftwaffel"
1974 Ghia
1966 Ghia |
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Igeo Samba Member
Joined: September 25, 2018 Posts: 888 Location: Oakland, CA
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Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2020 8:54 am Post subject: Re: No start when parked nose-up; otherwise fine |
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Food for thought. This is how the plumbing inside the tank looks. With low fuel levels, the pick up may be uncovered on a slope.
_________________ 1987 Westfalia 2.1 WBX Manual |
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davideric9 Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2009 Posts: 998 Location: Oakland CA
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Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2020 9:11 am Post subject: Re: No start when parked nose-up; otherwise fine |
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I agree, easiest thing to do is fill the tank, then park on the hill and see what happens. Then if no start, do the rest of the recommended tests.
This can also happen...
_________________ 1987 Syncro Westfalia, stock (bought 1994)
1986 Syncro Westfalia SVX, 3 knob (bought 2008)
1987 Westfalia (bought 2010)
1988 Wolfsburg GL (bought 2012) |
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korfmach Samba Member
Joined: February 28, 2014 Posts: 247 Location: Fort Collins, CO
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Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2021 3:06 pm Post subject: Re: No start when parked nose-up; otherwise fine - SOLVED (I think) |
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I replaced the 32-year-old ignition switch and the hard start condition hasn't returned. I started having difficulties in places other than my driveway and started looking...I think the nose-up parking context was coincidental. _________________ 1989 Westy
2016 Golf TSI
Gone, but not forgotten:
1974 Dorper Baywindow, "The Bleeding Trout"
1998 Jetta TDI, "Trixie"
1987 GTI, "Heike"
1974 Thing, "The Luftwaffel"
1974 Ghia
1966 Ghia |
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sanchius Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2007 Posts: 1445 Location: IN
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danfromsyr Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 15129 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2021 9:18 pm Post subject: Re: No start when parked nose-up; otherwise fine - SOLVED (I think) |
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indeed. and just because you have a new $15 switch doesn't mean it'll last anywhere as long as the OEM unit did..
I suggest ALWAYS carrying a spare switch in the parts stash.
there's a reason electric parts aren't accepted as a return. they're not reliable |
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