Hard start/fuel smell

2005VWGTI

MEMBER
2005 VOLKSWAGEN GTI
1.8L
4 CYL
TURBO
2WD
MANUAL
175,000 MILES

Engine is a 1.8t. When I get out of work after the car sitting for 10 hours it takes 2+ times of trying to start the car before it catches and starts. Then while I’m driving I’ll push the throttle down to pass people or to merge and I smell raw fuel in the car. I’ve replaced the fuel pump, fuel pressure regulator, and primary o2 sensor. No codes are present.

1 Reply

4DRTOM

MECHANIC
467 POSTS

Hello,

Stop driving the car until you leak is found. It's unsafe and risk of fire until it has been located.
Your hard start issue is happening because you have a leak somewhere and you loosing fuel pressure, once you identify the leak your performance should straighten out. Cycle the ignition into the run position and you should hear the pump, this should only run a few seconds to pressurized the system. Then start at the pump under your rear seat (see diagram) and the tank under the car at the fuel filter area and look for wetness inspect the line from the rear of the car up to the the engine and the fuel rail. Somewhere along the line you should be able to see wetness and begin to smell the fuel as well, seeing that the leak is enough that it's smelled in the car while driving.
Let me know what you find.
Tom

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