1.6TD not starting when hot

[Ilarik]

Hello everyone,
My 1990 1.6td JX vanagon has a very frustrating issue. When cold, the engine starts right up no problem but when hot it is really hard to get it started. There are lots of air bubbles coming from the injection pump return hose when starting and after getting it running. There are also some bubbles in the injection pump inllet hose, but not as many as in the return hose. It has no problem staying running after it has been started. So far i have changed the fuel filter, the fuel line from the filter to the inlet on the injection pump and checked connections on the inlet side. What could cause these kind of symptoms?
Thanks
Ilari

[?Waldo?]

Air is getting into the fuel somehow. Check each connection. The small hoses between the injectors are suspect. It could also be coming from the main shaft seal which will sometimes leak air into the pump without leaking fuel out.