Bug won't start after fuel filter change

[Shamrockez]

Decided to change the fuel filter on my Bug - the new one I got didn't fit (it leaked) so I drained the old one and put it back in. Sucked some fuel through and started him up - conked out pretty quick then wouldn't start again. So we undid the screw in the top of the filter (it's like the gold topped one in this pic: http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...Filter/4-1.jpg ) and he restarted for about 20 seconds then stopped. We haven't been able to get him started since. There's deffo still fuel in the filter cos we put the clear pipe on it again and sucked some more through. Thought it might be the battery so put jump leads on but it didn't make a difference. After cranking over for quite a long time the oil light will bleep and flash - added more oil as it was slightly low (but also facing downhill, so didn't want to add too much incase I over filled). It's a 98 ALH 1.9TDi.

Any ideas?


Thanks

[Shamrockez]

If I did the plastic cog/screw at the bottom up too tight would this cause the non starting problem? I remember it not being all that tight when I took it off, but I didn't want fuel to leak, so I did it up reasonably tight when I refitted it.

[CoriBug]

So you turned the key far enough in the ignition without starting it several times? When my friend changed my filter, I had to turn the key about 15 times

[ChristopherC]

Originally Posted by Shamrockez

If I did the plastic cog/screw at the bottom up too tight would this cause the non starting problem? I remember it not being all that tight when I took it off, but I didn't want fuel to leak, so I did it up reasonably tight when I refitted it.

No relation. The plastic device on the bottom of the filter is a valve that allows you to drain water from the filter (should there ever be any). The only concern about over-tightening is that you could possibly snap it off. Since the drain valve is upside-down on the filter, verify that you're in fact tightening it and not opening it all the way.

I'm not familiar with '98's with regards to how long it takes to purge the air from the fuel lines. One trick I've witnessed is while one person turns the ignition, another person loosens each fuel line connection at the injector to see if air or fuel leaks out.

[Shamrockez]

Cheers guys. Tried turning it over again and again and eventually the battery died!

So called out the breakdown service and he'd fixed it within 5 mins - he opened the nut by the injectors and bled the air out!

[jazzcat]

Originally Posted by Shamrockez

Cheers guys. Tried turning it over again and again and eventually the battery died!

So called out the breakdown service and he'd fixed it within 5 mins - he opened the nut by the injectors and bled the air out!

thats what i was going to say..air in the lines will do it

[Shamrockez]

Yeah I felt quite stupid when that was all it was

Still - I don't think I would have wanted to crank them open and go and turn the key without anyone else there to watch for diesel escaping!

Still - at least it's not like petrol going every where - boom!