Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1998 13:59:48 -0400
   From: "Kristopher B." <krisbee@i-2000.com>
   Reply-To: krisbee@i-2000.com
   Organization: http://www.i2.i-2000.com/~krisbee
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   Hello all.. recently it has been very difficult to start my 82 diesel..
   I have to pump at the gas ferociously for it to finally catch, and this
   process can take up to 20 seconds or more... It's a new battery, I am
   using the choke, the glow plugs are warmed..

Sounds like you have a leak in your fuel system. The leak may not
be large enough so you see any fuel coming out (but check, don't
want any fires). However, even a very small hole will let air in.
The fuel then drains back to the tank and you need to crank for a long
time before the transfer pump brings it back up.

Places to check: The (once) transparent fuel line. Seal around
pump input shaft. All the fuel return lines (Yes it seems like
leaks here allow the fuel to drain back also)

   Here is another real problem... when I go downhill, if I don't have the
   foot on the gas and reving high, my westy will stall out, and I will
   have to wait a few seconds and try to start her again.. also, it will
   take some time to get her going back to normal..

Unless you have the clutch presses I don't see how the engine could
stall going downhill.

/martin
--
Martin Jagersand                 email: jag@cs.yale.edu
Computer Science Department             jag@cs.rochester.edu
Yale University

        Slow down and visit the VW diesel Westy page:
          WWW: http://www.cs.rochester.edu/u/jag/vw
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