Ran it out of fuel

[DR.billZ]

After a brief worry session I gathered my thoughts and made a post to Fred's TDI site.
With instructions from over there I had the Beetle running in about 15 minutes.
Not a big deal. I don't recommend doing it but it is "easily" fixed.

[Dorado]

Basically, you "prime" the fuel filter, right? You fill the fuel filter with diesel, or diesel additive, or biodiesel. Please report briefly your experience.

[tdibugman]

No, Dorado, fill the tank and crank for 30 secs. Let it set for 30 more, and crank again.

The Rotary DE pump used by VW in our TDI's is very strong and will pull all the way from the tank without a prime. I know.....

If you were intelligent, you'd keep a bottle of powerservice and a funnel by the spare tire to use to prime the filter.

[DR.billZ]

YOu do that AND prime the lines going to the injectors. YOu do that by filling the filter canister, loosening the fuel line connections to the injectors(2 and 4 first) then crank until fuel comes out, tighten and then 1 and 3 until fuel comes out of them and tighten back up. Crank and she will fire up pretty quickly.
I did what you said to do and it never fired up.....as you guesses already because there is no fuel in the lines going to the injectors.

All this can be done in a matter of about 10 minutes easily.

Of course you want to put fuel in the tank first