Questions and Answers

Volkswagen Jetta Fox Fuel Pump Q. Hi. I hope you can offer me some advice because I really would like to avoid selling my car because I can't fix it myself or afford to take it someplace.

I have a 1989 Volkswagen Jetta Fox. It's a stick and had a mass tune up only a few days before the fuel pump totally went. I am in the process of learning which pump is the one that needed to be replaced, through the Union 76 that did the tune up. I have gotten estimates for working on it between $200 and $400 dollars.

I want to do this by myself (with a friend) if I can. Is this a job I can do? Do you know how much I really am going to pay and where the best places are to do it cheaply? I love this car but I know it is slowly dying. If I can afford to keep it for one more year I will do it. Any help is appreciated, as none of my friends can help much. I can send more info after I talk to Union 76 Monday.

Thanks,
Lisa

A. Okay Lisa, you confused me. It's either a Jetta or a Fox. Not both. However, on both the fuel pump sit's outside the fuel tank so you won't have to mess with the gas tank. There is subtle variations in the pump depending on what injection system it has, but both are basically the same.

Working underneath the car, locate the line from the tank to the pump and pinch it off. This will prevent the gas from running out of the tank. Now unplug the connector from the fuel pump. Now the lines to the pump will either have a bolt on fuel line, or be held on with hose clamps. If you have the bolt on lines, they use a hollow bolt with a copper gasket between the line and the pump, and the line and the bolt head. Be sure to replace these with new ones. If they are hose clamps, simply loosen the clamps and remove the lines.

Now it's just a matter of unbolting the fuel pump from the mounting bracket and installing the new one. Then hook up the lines making sure you have two new copper gaskets and that they are on correctly. Once all the lines are on tight, unpinch the intake line. Start the car and check for leaks.

It's not very difficult to do, just a little messy and the gas makes the undercoating messy. When you disconnect the lines, place a rag over the fittings and loosen them slowly to relieve the pressure.

The fuel pump is expensive, listing for $343.00 from the dealer. It will probably take you about 1.5 to 2 hours to replace. I'm sure you can handle it. Let me know how you did.

Additional Information provided courtesy of ALLDATA