MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Modifications & Technical Area => Technical Workshop => Topic started by: john87 on January 27, 2012, 10:04:57 am

Title: Fuel pump prime when drivers' door opened?
Post by: john87 on January 27, 2012, 10:04:57 am
I can remember reading somewhere that, in the mk5, there is a command which tells the fuel system to prime when the drivers door is opened after the doors are unlocked...

I can't say I've ever noticed anything happening on my golf, however I was driving a 2010 seat ibiza yesterday and noticed this happening upon opening of the drivers' door. I know its a different type of fuel system on these engines (standard 1.4) than the Golf's FSI unit, but wondering if this could be contributing towards the cold start problems that myself and some other GTI owners have?

Title: Re: Fuel pump prime when drivers' door opened?
Post by: RagingKileak on January 27, 2012, 03:21:17 pm
I hear it prime when I open the door on my 2007 ED30.

Rgds
Matt
Title: Re: Fuel pump prime when drivers' door opened?
Post by: Jaywoo-GTI on January 27, 2012, 03:37:31 pm
And me on my 2006 GTI
Title: Re: Fuel pump prime when drivers' door opened?
Post by: Tfsi_Mike on January 27, 2012, 04:04:28 pm
+2 on my Cupra
Title: Re: Fuel pump prime when drivers' door opened?
Post by: gazbutS3 on January 27, 2012, 04:07:38 pm
and me  :laugh:
Title: Re: Fuel pump prime when drivers' door opened?
Post by: bacillus on January 27, 2012, 07:47:32 pm
and me  :laugh:

+1
Title: Re: Fuel pump prime when drivers' door opened?
Post by: john87 on January 27, 2012, 07:49:12 pm
How obvious is this sound? I could hear it quite clearly on the Ibiza, a sound like water passing through a kinked section of garden hose, for about a second or two. Nothing in the GTI though  :scared:
Title: Re: Fuel pump prime when drivers' door opened?
Post by: john_o on January 27, 2012, 08:48:26 pm
on mine its very obvious , so x3  :happy2:
Title: Re: Fuel pump prime when drivers' door opened?
Post by: Richn83 on January 28, 2012, 09:13:00 am
i never hear mine, but dont have cold start issues. 05 gti.
Title: Re: Fuel pump prime when drivers' door opened?
Post by: rich83 on January 28, 2012, 09:17:19 am
Can't say I've noticed it on mine.
Title: Re: Fuel pump prime when drivers' door opened?
Post by: Gene Hunt on January 28, 2012, 09:37:51 am
and me  :laugh:

+1
......hear mine,ED 30. :smiley:
Title: Re: Fuel pump prime when drivers' door opened?
Post by: MPS on January 28, 2012, 09:48:50 pm
I used to hear this every time on my old mk4 1.8T GTI, but can't say I've ever noticed it on my mk5 tbh.  :confused:
Title: Re: Fuel pump prime when drivers' door opened?
Post by: edd666999 on January 28, 2012, 09:55:57 pm
i hear mine too 07gti
Title: Re: Fuel pump prime when drivers' door opened?
Post by: stealthwolf on January 28, 2012, 11:18:54 pm
I notice mine and have done ever since I bought it (57-plate ED30).
Title: Re: Fuel pump prime when drivers' door opened?
Post by: john87 on February 01, 2012, 10:14:26 pm
I have a hunch that I'm on to something here...

I've had cold start problems ever since I've had my GTI, where the engine stutters then finally fires up...sounds like a bubble of air going through the fuel lines.

I'd be curious to find out if all those who can hear the in-tank pump priming have ever experienced this delayed cold start issue?
Title: Re: Fuel pump prime when drivers' door opened?
Post by: gillm on February 01, 2012, 10:17:46 pm
yep thats how they work , infact most vag cars do if not all
Title: Re: Fuel pump prime when drivers' door opened?
Post by: ub7rm on February 01, 2012, 10:29:35 pm
^ as above, all the VAG cars I've been in do this and its noticeable.  My mk4 GTI did it, my wifes 1.2 polo does it and my 05 GTI does it.
Title: Re: Fuel pump prime when drivers' door opened?
Post by: john_o on February 01, 2012, 11:06:31 pm
afaik its also in the service manuals as a warning to avoid triggering it while working on the fuel pump
Title: Re: Fuel pump prime when drivers' door opened?
Post by: john87 on February 01, 2012, 11:33:09 pm
well for some reason mines doesn't do it. The hire car (seat ibiza) I had last week did it..

just to be sure, I'm gonna lift the back seat tomorrow and listen at the pump while I get someone to turn the key, as it's supposed to do a further 'blip' of the pump after the initial door-open priming. If I hear nothing, I'll be sure to mention it at service time, next month  :happy2:
Title: Re: Fuel pump prime when drivers' door opened?
Post by: ub7rm on February 02, 2012, 07:41:40 pm
I wouldn't have thought the car would run at all if the pump wasn't working and there would certainly be fault codes...
Title: Re: Fuel pump prime when drivers' door opened?
Post by: vwrascal on February 02, 2012, 10:02:47 pm
I hear the it prime, like a quiet 'whine'! Have cold start problems occasionally  :happy2:
Title: Re: Fuel pump prime when drivers' door opened?
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on February 03, 2012, 11:02:11 am
How obvious is this sound? I could hear it quite clearly on the Ibiza, a sound like water passing through a kinked section of garden hose, for about a second or two. Nothing in the GTI though  :scared:
Maybe the Ibiza (being a cheaper make - dons nomex suit  :evilgrin:) has less soundproofing than VWs . . . .
Title: Re: Fuel pump prime when drivers' door opened?
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on February 03, 2012, 11:14:01 am
I have a hunch that I'm on to something here...
Be careful when you get off it then!  :P


I've had cold start problems ever since I've had my GTI, where the engine stutters then finally fires up...sounds like a bubble of air going through the fuel lines.

I'd be curious to find out if all those who can hear the in-tank pump priming have ever experienced this delayed cold start issue?
My GTI occasionally stutters or hesitates on startup (usually when its been left for more than a day or two) - but I always hear the fuel pump prime when I open the drivers door.  I also hear it do the same on my RS4 - and that is the same - starts instantly when used regularly, but if it hasn't been used for a fortnight or more, the starter can sometimes crank for about six seconds before the beast awakens.

Try removing the rear seat squab - because the low pressure lift pump is basically under the rear right seat - and then see  if you can hear it.  Or how about trying a 'double prime' - unlock the car, open drivers door, shut door, open drivers door again . . . and see what that does.

Personally, I'm not convinced at all that the low pressure lift pump is the problem - this does NOT provide the necessary pressure to activate the injectors.  The electric lift pump is designed to pressurise the fuel lines to 6bar, whereas the mechanical HPFP will give around 110bar - and it is this 100+ bar figure which is needed by the FSI system.  If your lecky low pressure lift pump didn't work, then it is doubtful your engine would run at all.

Finally, the electric low pressure lift pump is DTC enabled - it will log and store fault codes - so scan your car with VCDS.