Can you pump diesel through manually? If so how? Car wont start...

[NotMyName]

Asking on behalf of my brother so basically he's asked if you can pump diesel through manually & if so, where's the primer located?

Problem is car wont start. Has been fine, but starting with a bit of a moan & whine for some time. He did his brakes at the weekend but left the radio on for hours, so we figured flat battery.

Jump start - no joy
Charge battery all day - no joy.

All dash lights still come on ok.

Took him out & bump started (that what it's called? in gear, let clutch out while being towed....) anyway the car started but it was juddery as hell & eventually the revs died. Did this a few times & the same kept happening.

He renewed his starter motors yesterday, which cured the irritating whining & moaning sound he's had on startup since he bought it in April, but it didn't cure the failure to actually start.

Took it to a back street garage who put his diagnostics on it & couldn't find anything. He doesn't mess with electrics, so recommended a local sparky.

So that's the state of play at the moment. My brother is currently questioning diesel pump.

[Steve_PD]

What model?

Did he change the fuel filter?

[NotMyName]

2002 1.9 TDI 100bhp variant.

Fuel filter was changed some time in May i think it was. Either shortly after he bought it in April or early May. Genuine VW filter. He changed Pollen & Air Filters on Sunday too, but can't see that making a difference.

Strange as up until the brakes it was ok AFAIK. Then it just stopped starting.

[Steve_PD]

When you open the drivers door can you hear the fuel pump priming?

Checked fuses since killing the battery?

Cant see what would break after the battery has gone dead, unless something has happened to the immobiliser and its preventing it from starting

[NotMyName]

1. I'll ask him

2. I know he hasn't checked the fuses. Which one/s should he be paying particular attention to, or is it a case of pull every single one out?

3. The mechanic did apparently make a comment about immobiliser & the key & what not, but my mum is awful at remembering messages. What would be the solution here? Reprogramming the ECU or something?

[NotMyName]

Well he checked the fuses & said they're all ok.

Not sure what sound you're meaning. I know when i turn the ignition on on my 1.8 (petrol) Astra MK4, it makes a sort of, umm, well i don't know how you'd type the sound lol. It lasts a few seconds & then stops. I asked my brother if this would be the fuel pump priming, but he said it doesn't make an electrical sound, so i'm stumped.

Any idea how you'd check the immobiliser being the fault?

He's creeping towards taking it to an autospark it seems, which will be costly. Not good when £1,600 insurance is on its way 1st Aug. lol.

[Hoggy]

That 'ummm' noise is the fuel pump priming and i think that the golfs only do it when you open the drivers door and not when you turn the key. I think the only was to know if its the immobiliser is to get an auto sparky, at the minute thats sounding most likely if all of the fuses are ok.

[NotMyName]

Maybe i've got the wrong end of the stick then...

So just open the door - simple as that? Don't need to put key in ignition? Sorry if that's a bit dim, but i'll pass it on if so as he just wound the window down to see if he could hear anything.

[NotMyName]

Opened the door - can't hear nothing. My brother said you never could though.

Ignition on, hear the click click, but that's it, nothing else.

[Chambo]

Hi I can't offer much advice I'm afraid but as far as the fuel pump priming I don't hear that on my tdi that I've just got, but it was very audible on the gti I just sold,wandered myself why I couldnt hear it