hey guys, need some help here, found an 85 diesel golf that i can pick up for $300, maybe less but the thing is that the guy says it doesnt run but that it will start and run on starting fluid so im trying to get an idea of what might be wrong with it before i go look at it. he needs it gone today so thats why its urgent, i mean its not a lot of money if its an easy fix but if its going to be too much hassle to get running then ill pass. sure would be nice to have a 45MPG for a DD though!

Sounds like a fuel delivery problem to me. I would check into a VW website and see what the common problems are.

Break the return line loose from the injector pump and pour the pump full of fuel. Pump has likely lost its prime. A new fuel filter is probably in order as well. Old VW diesels are entirely mechanical, so there's not much to go wrong. Use the starting problem as a bargaining chip on the price, and laugh all the way to the bank.

Now that sounds like good solid advice ;).

I think that was a 26 to 1 compression engine: starting fluid may be catastrophic for it.

I had the 83 Jetta with the (48hp?) NA diesel... what a machine! A riding lawn mower would whoop it's ass in a drag race but it did get 40mpg+ all the time.

Does it have the see-thru fuel line? Bubbles? Also make sure the return line has a reducing port in it (the supply tap should be full flow ported).

Hell, the damn pump may just be out of time. VERY simple diesel to maintain. Good luck.

try an electric fuel pump or pressurize the fuel tank, the 1.6 didnt have an external lift pump, and if it has been sitting the pump could have lost prime also the 1.6 vw was known for cracking heads around the valves and between cylinders (alum head cast block) so could be loosing compression.