Air in Pipes: Troubleshooting Starting Problems

Hi,

I wanted to share some positive news. We had a Sharan that was difficult to start and also showed air bubbles in the diesel line. After a lot of searching, the cause turned out to be quite simple, and it seems this problem isn't unique to our car.

The fuel sensor was bent, which meant it always indicated a higher fuel level than was actually present. Also, the air intake snorkel was crooked. Inside the snorkel, there's a sliding mechanism that's supposed to move with the fuel level; this mechanism was stuck in the upper position and also bent.
Fuel sensor replaced, and it's working perfectly. It starts up immediately again, and there are no more bubbles.
It cost 70 euros.

After that, I also took another A3 TDI, which also always had problems, and there I also found a bent intake manifold in the tank...
In both vehicles, there were no visible external signs of damage. It was only after removing the sensor that it became clear that the intake manifold was bent.
However, the fuel gauge on the A3 worked perfectly and was quite accurate, as promised!

Perhaps it's worth a try for some people, and it's worth checking out!

Hello Vagtuning.

I'm also having the same problem with air bubbles in the diesel line and difficulty starting my Golf 3. Maybe I should take a look.

But: How can a sensor bend like that? Surely, no significant force is acting on it.
Another question. Where is the fuel vent located on the Golf? It could be the cause of the problem.