1.8t Won't catch, checked fuel pump,pushed on relay and horn honks

3184 Views 5 Replies 3 Participants Last post by Tomvw, Jan 15, 2014

johosephat

Discussion Starter · Jan 14, 2014 (Edited)

1.8t Won't start/catch, checked fuel pump,pushed on relay. and horn works

Please bear with me... passat noobie ( 3 weeks). manufactured 5/98 wagon stick shift. car is too much fun, getting pulled over once a week on average. friend at junkyard said "maybe you should change your shoes ?"

The condition ; car running well, has gas, routinely fixing with recycling yard parts (interior etc). just replaced glove box, turned off car. wouldn't start next morning ( turns over ...no catch or trying to catch. dead. did rain previous night. Op ( is this operator ?) is bad with keys attached to wallet, pulls routinely on ignition. (will correct soon...with fancy new remote keys when i can afford).

no water on mats. checked for "car wash condition" turned car over multiple times. put batt on charger( in car). checked for fuel, plugs dry. checked fuel rail, pump not activating. manually hot wired pump with extra batt, pump works. checked all fuses( replaced #14 anyway as per advice). tore cover off pump relay pushed on it no pump ( apparently...no start still exists). tested icm. removed ecm,was dry(and attached harness connectors to interior harness).

horn honks so it's not ignition ? :banghead: thoughts ? Thanks so much in advance. i'm boggled by amount of info here at PW... it's got me this far ...who knew ?! i feel lots better knowing what some of this newfangled gibber-underdash is. this place ( PW) is better than reading a factory manual ( $100 ? wth, guess i'll get it later )

AWESOME.

i should check for spark but it's always fuel OR spark right ? oh yea, not in 70's anymore.check ground was mentioned but...where ? thanks again ?

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ylwagon

· #2 · Jan 14, 2014

Your title is confusing: ...checked fuel pump, pushed on relay and horn honks. That makes it sound like the FP relay operates the horn. Perhaps you were actually pushing the horn relay contacts??

Now that you know the pump runs, but not by pushing the FP relay contacts (you are sure?) then there is either a wiring or ground problem to the pump, or there is no power available at the relay. With the relay cover off, do you see the contacts close while cranking, then open again when you stop cranking the engine? If so, the ECU is doing its job. Now use a DVM to probe the two contacts of the pump relay relative to grounded metal. One should have 12V or so at all times. The other should only have 12V when the contacts are touching. If that one does, then somehow the current is not getting to the pump. Be sure to check the brown (ground) wire at the pump connector for low resistance to grounded metal.

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johosephat

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 15, 2014

Ylwagon, Thanks for noting confusing title ! not sure i fixed that but amateur try ..

i took apart fourth relay from left side (printed schematic looked right) will double check. There is power at relay, but does not operate(relay) with activating ignition, no movement. relays contacts were fresh/not pitted. manually depressing relay did not activate troubleshoot light. know more soon..thanks

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johosephat

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jan 15, 2014

FIXED ! Thanks ....

Thanks ylwagon :angel: !!!

okay. tested the fuel pump ground it came out well ( no ohm resistance 0.00) i had a spare unknown ecm with correct #'s and ( thanks to your mentioning relay is controlled by ecm) i plugged it in for giggles...relay came to life right before my eyes ! i checked the fuel pump harness and got no test light confirmation so on a hunch i jumped the fuel pump ....and... wait for it.....ignition. i reset ecm and noticed positive batt cable was loose

and somehow fuel pump wire has ________ ( shorted ?!) and fried ecm ....idk.

vehicle starts and runs...need to limp it in to the shop to get it checked before i try to smog ( saw your in calimafornia , so i know you know what i mean). THANKS !:thumbup:

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ylwagon

· #5 · Jan 15, 2014

Good job, though still not sure what fixed your car. So you had a bad ECM, loose battery clamp, and a fuel pump wiring problem?

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Tomvw

· #6 · Jan 15, 2014

FWIW I think the ECU is most likely OK, and the only fault was the battery connection.

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