Hi Poppie,

I ran a Jetta diesel with the same minor air leak at the shaft for two years
like that, i.e., with an 'el cheapo' fuel pump from the local FLAPS, and a
button mounted down under the dash. Very simple - - hold button down for
about five seconds to purge air, hold button for glow plugs for a few
seconds (I don't believe in replacing expensive glow plug circuits once they
quit working), then start. The only caveat I can think of is to make sure
the pump flows freely when it's not pumping - - try blowing through the
inlet tube to check. If it's not a free-flow type you'll just have to let
the pump run continuously while the engine is running. The pump on eBay
looks similar to what I used.

Gary

le in the fuel return line as I wrote before. However putting the can a foo=
> t or two above the injection pump, and thus creating a small over pressure
> =
> into the pump, then the bubbles go away. Instead a drop or two (very
> little=
> ) Diesel leaked out around the input shaft. I saw no other
> leaks.=0A=0AThis=
>  small air leak does not seem to affect driveability. It just takes a lot
> o=
> f cranking to start it. Bad for starter and pump! Doing the seal would be
> e=
> asy when time for the timing belt and tensioner change. Until then I'm
> temp=
> ted to put in an in-line fuel pump at the tank with a switch so I can
> prime=
>  the pump before starting.=0A=0AMartin=0A=0A--- On Mon, 6/13/11, Poppie
> Jag=
> ersand <poppie.jagersand@yahoo.ca> wrote:=0A=0A> From: Poppie Jagersand
> <po=
> ppie.jagersand@yahoo.ca>=0A> Received: Monday, June 13, 2011, 1:18 AM=0A>
> U=
> pdate on the slow progress on=0A> getting the Westy road ready. Our
> vacatio=
> n got delayed a=0A> month so I have not been working on it at the speed I
> s=
> hould=0A> have. Put in another afternoon in the debugging this=0A> Sunday.=
> =0A> =0A> Looks like the unfortunate news is that the injection pump=0A>
> it=
> self has a very small air leak. I have replaced all the=0A> rubber hoses
> fo=
> r the injector return lines (the usual=0A> suspects). Then I disconnected
> t=
> he fuel; in and return lines=0A> on the pump and connected two new hoses
> th=
> at I ran directly=0A> from a jerry can of Diesel fuel. =0A> =0A> When
> start=
> ing the pump would first purge the air, so pushed=0A> big air bubbles
> throu=
> gh the return line. However, even after=0A> some minutes of running, small
> =
> air bubbles would remain. I'm=0A> not sure how long it takes for the air
> to=
>  be completely=0A> purged, but it looked to me as if there was a
> continuing=
>  and=0A> not diminishing amount of small bubbles.=0A> =0A> So I'm running
> o=
> ut of "easy" things to change. I guess I=0A> can change the copper washers
> =
> on the input and output fuel=0A> fittings on the pump. If that doesn't
> help=
>  what else can I=0A> try short of removing the pump and replacing
> seals?=0A=
> > =0A> I'm thinking since the bubbles continue when running, the=0A> leak
> s=
> hould before the vane transfer pump. I'm not sure what=0A> shafts seals
> sho=
> uld be most suspect, but the input shaft=0A> might be one.=A0=A0=A0=0A>
> =0A=
> > Let me know what you think and if there is anything else I=0A> should
> tes=
> t.=0A> =0A> I tried Gnarlie's oil squirting trick on the inlet=0A>
> fittings=
> . Wasn't sure how to get motor oil to the input seal=0A> without risking
> sp=
> lattering one the timing belt, so didn't=0A> do that. (Bad idea since
> backs=
> ide of timing belt drives the=0A> intermediate shaft, and oil on the belt
> c=
> an make it slip.=0A> b.t.d.t. on my previous B2 Passat TD)=0A> =0A> I
> might=
>  also try adding a low pressure electric pump at the=0A> fuel tank as
> sever=
> al forum members suggested. What do you=0A> think about this ebay
> pump?=0A>=
>
> http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3D220797730011&ssPageNam=
> e=3DSTRK:MEWAX:IT=0A>
> ***********************************************
>