Fuel problem with a Volkswagen Passat

[bobhalliday]

Can anyone offer a little advice about an older friends Passat. I thought at first it was a dead battery, or even froze up as it wouldnt turn first off, I got the battery fully charged and tried it but it just barely turned and then the starter disengaged so quickly, at these times I was fairly well dressed and couldn't get right into it!
My old buddy got his local Indy to look at it, he eventually bled it and it started, he drove it a couple of miles then parked it, next day back as bad again, not starting. The Indy reckons it may need glowplugs but I would have thought it more like a fuel pipe seal gone somewhere allowing the fuel to leak back to tank. Exactly the same as my XM did once because of the porous heater.
I'm wondering if the same can be wrong here? I'll have a good look at it after Christmas but a wee pointer would help.
Thanks. Bob.

[Dieselman]

Assuming it's a TDi then it doesn't really need glowplugs and I suspect your air leak theory is correct. Cold weather thas a habit of finding them.

[onthecut]

Hi Bob.

I'm not clear from reading your post whether you feel the issue is fuel related or electrical. Do you mean it will only turn over very slowly and / or the starter flies out too quickly, or it cranks OK but won't fire ?

Mike.

[bobhalliday]

Sorry I didn't give enough details, not being my car I don't know a lot about it but I think it's a 1.9 TD 'L' reg. I do some minor repairs on it.
The starter at first would hardly turn the engine, I didn't want to cause any real damage so had the battery put on charge first. I wanted the engine het up a bit too in case it was frozen. My buddy tried the engine next day and then I did too, the engine went like it turned fast, a lttle bit but kicked the starter out before it started, or it fired but didn't start therefore kicked out the starter.
I'm going to have a better look tomorrow and hope to find a seal or something on the fuel line causing it to leak back, It is garaged but it was freezing in there, and I'll be dressed for the occasion then!
Thanks for the help.
Bob.

[Peter.N.]

Hi Bob

Lack of antifreeze would certainly cause it to turn slowly - if at all. If it was frozen up it could have done damage elsewhere.

Peter

[bobhalliday]

Hi All.
Thanks for the good advice even for a non Citroen, but we can't help other peoples poor choice of car!
The problem was two fold, short of fuel and a slight air leak at the pump joint. All is well now.
Bob.

[Peter.N.]

Should have got a 2.1 XM, that wouldn't have run out of fuel

[citroenxm]

Be Fair Peter, Hard riding and much louder the VAG car may be, but the TDi does REALLY go further on a gallon then the 2.1...

Ive always been attracted the VAG TDi's 55+ MPG, but the VERY hard ride, and loud TDi engine has always put me off...

My first choice, XM 2.1 TD Manual...

Paul

[Peter.N.]

Ah...but the XM has a bigger fuel tank

[citroenxm]

Yes but the actual MPG is much higher, so it will ALWAYS be lighter on your pocket...

Im not a VAG person, just I DO like lots of mpg.. but comfort DOES come first! Hence my HDi XM project I want to do... got them both then

Paul