[Vwdiesel] Injectors

[travis gottschalk]

I think I have heard the BEW injectors last about 250-300K miles. Don't have a clue how long the common rail injectors are. I know their high pressure pumps have given them fits so some people. 

Bill, The spray depends on the injector being tested and for what engine as some are indirect and some direct injection. You would be safe if all the injectors had the same spray patterns for the engine you are using the tester for. Make sure it is a mist and not a stream or drips when it pops. Try youtube out as they may have your video.

My resent interesting story is on my 04 Golf. Everything was running fine with the car and made a few trips around town. I decided to change the fuel filter to the upgraded CAT filter (filters to a smaller micron). I cycled the key a few times like I have done with past filters to have the filter get filled with the in tank fuel lift pump. I didn't check if fuel was flowing as I haven't had to in the past. I started it up and then it died a little bit latter. I couldn't get it to start. I had to jump it as my battery is 6 years old and last years glow plug recall took a toll on the battery anyways. So I had it jumped and continued turning as I thought it had just lost prime. Finally it started. Ok, no big deal. I drive about 10 blocks and it does the same thing. I was driving and put in the clutch to come to a stop light and it just died. I though no big deal. I cranked for a bit and thankfully it started. Drove another 10 blocks and same thing. This time I had to jump it again (had to get the faithful rabbit with the 90 amp alternator and 1.9 TD aaz). Got it started again. Then died again-started and died one more spot. 

I had heard that lift pumps can go out on the 04 and newer cars but I didn't think they were intermittent like this. I took of the thermo T and didn't see any fuel. I had my wife turn the key a few times and nothing came out. I finally decided to use the rabbit to tow it about a mile back to my shop area in town. That was a sight with a 1500 lb car towing a 3000 lb car but it didn't have any power issues and we put the phones on speaker so we could talk each other through the stop lights and turns. So I get it to the shop and the fuel pumps again. I didn't even bother starting the car as I know the outcome is that it would stop again. I had heard that if you don't have any air or leaks in the fuel lines you can have a failed lift pump and the car's tandem pump will create enough of a suction to keep driving. I have heard of people going thousands of miles like this. It is possible my pump had failed or was failing long ago but it took a fuel filter (I do before winter as a just in case measure) to make it show. Some others I have read when there lift pumps failed there car died on the spot not to be restarted. That is what was throwing me a loop.

I tested the plug and of course there is power to it at least at that moment. I don't know if there is an interruption in power to it at times or what. I took the lift pump out and noticed everything had a coating of some grime from 100,000 miles on the car. I did rush order a lift pump in as I can't afford to wait to trouble shoot everything. That was $268 with next day air. Napa was $350 with it "maybe" getting here by Wednesday when I leave for MN from WY for a family reunion. I noticed that the internal screen was dirty as well. Not plugged but definitely dirty from the grim that was in the tank. Nothing was big in the screens but it is like dust if it was dried. I hooked the pump up to a 12 volt source and the pump pushed air. I broke a tab on the pump housing taking it apart so I would have to repair that if I wanted to reuse or have as a spare but I think I will play it safe as I don't want to be stranded. Also ordered an interstate battery since mine isn't worth attempting this winter and yesterday took the last bits of life out of it. Go figure, the model battery I needed had to be special ordered so it will be here Monday (hopefully). I also in my rage messed up the hood latch and couldn't get the one tab to bend back correctly. The hood would latch but the secondary pull wasn't latching. There was another $120. Note to self. Change the fuel filter a month before a big trip and gently set hood down. I will update if the lift pump replacement fixed the issue. I also rigged a 12 volt source for only when key is on and a string of wire to plug into it so if the plug and harness leading up to it is bad or the relay if there is one I can still run a power source to the pump to drive. I don't think I will go as far as carrying another spare lift pump with me like some I have read about though. Sorry for the long post. That was just my weekend. Oh, did I mention I have been working nights everyday since the beginning of the month 12 hour shifts (for a dragline repair). Maybe that is why I slammed the hood down a little too hard at 2 pm and I had to leave for work again in a few hours with no sleep up to that point and a 1500 mile trip ahead of me. Again, sorry for the ranting. I am still low on sleep. 
Travis G.