OH NO! PROBLEMS ALREADY!

[jmbrownell]

Hello all I am new to the forum and to VW's in general.

I was showing my girlfriend the new car tonight, and it stalled and would not start.

I'll back up, I had just pulled away from a stop sign everything was running as normal, and then the car starts to stall, interestingly the tach revved to 4000 and the stopped. I pulled to the side of the road, tried to start it back up, and it just gave me the ERERERERER wouldn't turn over. Then I smelled it, a super sulfury smell OH NO could it be my Catalytic converter I was thinking so I let the car sit for 10 mins and it started up again after which I proceeded to hurry home. I would say I had been driving the car for a total of 20 minutes, and the water temp gauge was about 3/4. Sorry if this is a little incoherent I have been drowning my sorrows with a 12 pack

thank you for any help in advance. I REALLY want to love this car.

NOTE:
The person i bought the car from (my boss who I trust) said that the car ran fine, that is just needed the engine mount replaced (the car shakes like well I don't like exactly it just shakes a lot when you are stopped sitting at idle). I really don't know where to start, I am just real frustrated. I mean how many people can say that their car broke down the day they bought it?

[Briano1234]

First, take the fuel pump relay out of he car and jumper it.

Second was there a high pitched whine from the rear passenger side of the car?

[jmbrownell]

Not that I remember before the car stalled, And definitely not after.

The was earlier in the night, and I thought it was sort of weird, what sounded like the engine fan ran for about 30 seconds after I had shut the car off.

I'm thinking about trying and taking it to a shop today, I would just like to have some sort of idea what is going wrong.

[jmbrownell]

ok, so I went to see if my mechanic was working today, and they were closed. on the way home the car died again, and is still sitting there. I did hear a weird sound, a chime almost or a bell, it wasn't a terrible whine, like a say belt would make. Does that sound like the fuel pump?

Here is another question; I have an 81 Rabbit convertible I hear talk of in tank pumps and a "out of tank" pumps would I have the in tank? and where are these located? sorry I don't know a tremendous amount about cars, especially not foreign. Thank you for all the help.

[bbrown]

ok, so I went to see if my mechanic was working today, and they were closed. on the way home the car died again, and is still sitting there. I did hear a weird sound, a chime almost or a bell, it wasn't a terrible whine, like a say belt would make. Does that sound like the fuel pump?

Here is another question; I have an 81 Rabbit convertible I hear talk of in tank pumps and a "out of tank" pumps would I have the in tank? and where are these located? sorry I don't know a tremendous amount about cars, especially not foreign. Thank you for all the help.

The whine is most likely the fuel pump as Briano1234 said earlier and IIRC your 81 Rabbit has two pumps: one in the tank pump and another inline pump. Briano1234 is the man when it comes to fuel pumps so I am sure he will correct me if I am wrong. Good luck.

[jmbrownell]

here is another question, where is the fuel pump relay located? under the dash on the driver side? and I have heard about being able to "jump" the relay, what does that entail? I just want to get the car in my drive way.

[Briano1234]

1980-1984.5 has only one pump, the main. If you have a full sized spare tire, then you only have one pump.
1984.5- 1993 has two pumps. In-tank and main.

If you are having problems and there is a loud whine and you have a donut spare tire then your in-tank pump is causing a restriction on the main pump.

bypassing early fuse panels and relays

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1565000

http://www.cabby-info.com has the fuse panel /relay layouts.

[jmbrownell]

well thanks for the reply, wasn't able to get it running, and im pretty sure its the fuel pump also, I don't have any tools at the moment and I rent an apartment pretty hard to work on a car here. So I sent it to a local VW mechanic, was hoping to have it by tuesday, but that is unlikely. Thanks for all your help, and lets cross our fingers I have enough money to pay for the repairs!

Brian you are incredible with your knowledge around here, and brown you are have been a help also! Ill keep ya updated.

[jmbrownell]

well as an update, I just got my car back. It turned out the fuel meter plunger was dirty, and the plunger would not open. Thats why the car would not start. The mechanic also said that I had a bad oxygen sensor (have one in the mail) and that what he calls my idle motor was going out. I looked around for this "idle motor" and couldn't find anything it is located right under where you adjust the idle, any ideas what he was talking about? he also found numerous vacuum leaks. YIKES! i have a lot of work to do.

[Briano1234]

"idle motor"

What the hell is that?

[jmbrownell]

haha, I have no idea I was hoping that you would know. I will take a picture of it tomorrow.

[jmbrownell]

thought of something else this morning, what size vacuum hose would I need (thinking of replacing everything) Where can i get the hose, and does anyone have a Diagram of the vacuum hoses?

thanks, and I will post some pictures today.

till later


Justin

[Calimus]

Might this "idle Motor" be the aux air regulator on the back of the intake?

[Briano1234]

thought of something else this morning, what size vacuum hose would I need (thinking of replacing everything) Where can i get the hose, and does anyone have a Diagram of the vacuum hoses?

thanks, and I will post some pictures today.

till later


Justin

Just take the couple of different sizes to your parts store and buy it in bulk about 5 foot each will be more than enough.

The diagrams are on www.cabby-info.com

[gull]

Could be the idle boost solenoid, too. Non-A/C cars have one, A/C equipped cars have two.