PD 130 Passat breakdown

[micky 32]

A mate has a 2002 Passat PD 130, it all started when the car was idling, it started as a miss but when he revved it, it disappeared until it idled again and then it cut out.
It wouldnt start but would start with a tow but the engine had very little power and would only restart with a tow..

He left it to someone to have a look but when it was towed to the garage the car became ok again and was ok for 2 weeks and now the problem has returned permanetly..

i had a quick look today and when you switch on ignition you cant hear the lift pump in the tank priming, no buzz, just quiet..

Would the pump have failed? Or could it be a bad connection somewhere?

 

[prc]

sounds more like faulty wiring somewhere.

 

[craig-pd130]

I don't always hear the lift pump priming on my Passat, usually only when there's less than a quarter of a tankful in it.

Sounds like it's not getting enough fuel one way or the other, could be a duff sensor, blocked filter or maybe there's an air leak somewhere on the inlet side.

 

[micky 32]

Its definately pump related but was wondering because it stopped then worked for 2 weeks and then stopped altogether can pumps that are faulty do that, i thought it would stop altogether.

The pump noise was always noticable in this car, it is now totally silent, it definately isnt budging
The reason it kinda runs when towed is because its sucking a certain amount diesel up but as the pump isnt working it wouldnt be a proper flow or pressure.

 

[basstard]

maybe a bad connection in the electrical part of the ignition switch,,, 25 euros at the dealer, worth a try imho.

 

[RichardBW]

relays tend to fail then work for a bit, then fail again, then work. Cracked joints in these cause the problems???? Not sure which one controls fuel pumps or ECU though...sorry.

 

[micky 32]

yeah, never thought of the relay, could do a bit of swapping with my fathers passat just to see.

 

[muddyboots]

Has the car got wet floors ?

This is a VERY common problem on Passats, caused by drain point blocking up.

You might wonder what this has to do with the problems you mention - except that one of the main control modules is in the passenger floorwell:

Not sure which module it is (think it might be central convenience) but could be worth checking. It is a VERY common problem.

 

[muddyboots]

Or could be a dodgy fill of fuel, maybe water mixed in ?

 

[RichardBW]

It is the central convenience module in the picture. If this does get wet it may play havoc with the alarm and central locking but should not effect engine running in this way.

 

[micky 32]

Would you believe im now worried about my own pump. The last couple of days the hum is louder off it when you switch on ignition but tonight when i was parked and with the engine idling i can now hear the pump over the engine its like its vibrating more and you can hear it whirring away which i never heard before, is this a bad sign?

 

[micky 32]

Update. It was the in tank pump that failed.