[Vwdiesel] Cold Start 1... Hot Start 0

[Mark Shepherd]

Thanks for all the replies. 
I have driven it without the solenoid plunger, and it's not failed with it out, yet, but, having said that, after that 2 mile run, in a rush last week [perhaps making 
the pump hotter than normal], I took the solenoid plunger out after restart failure, but it made no difference when hot, and the AA man came about half an 
hour later, and it was still out, with the pump luke warm, and his initial tentative use of Ether, and then generous direct squirts beyond the filter, failed to get 
the engine to go beyond a stutter. 

Stalling the engine with the clutch is not much fun, especially as it has a clutch that has been slipping recently. It needs replacing, but I've forgot which size 
is already in it!

Today I did an 8 mile trip, broken up in the middle with an hour and a half stop. No issues. Returned home, stopped the engine counted to 10, and tried a 
restart. No problem. The trip was quite leisurely paced. 
I think that the issue occurs when engine is slightly pushed, and then it seems to remain, until cool. I suppose most journeys such as going to work, visiting 
friends, or a lengthy shopping spree etc and this fault will not show itself. Forcing the glowplugs on with a jump did not cure it. 

Thus I'm now down to the apparent low volume of fuel in the fuel lines at hot start-up. 
The solenoid has now been discounted, and that leaves fuel supply at startup. Fine when cold but, not when hot, maybe when warm. 

I cannot see the vane pump being an issue as it is fed diesel from the tank, with no recycling at the fuel filter. 
It really must be linked to the special lever mentioned in books, that holds the spill-off sleeve over and beyond maximum fueling, for driving.

Compression likely not great, but certainly better than it has been for many of the 7 years or so of driving this engine!
Constructive comments welcome, even rude ones might be worth a look Lol

Regards,
Mark

Mark