88 Jetta not getting fuel

[robins13]

88 Jetta GL died chugging to a stop. I am not getting fuel to the engine. Pulled the line to the fuel rail and not a drop. I then replaced the external fuel pump and filter. Still nothing. I can hear the tank fuel pump work and pulled it just to make sure that it worked. It did pump fuel. I then replaced the fuel pump relay. Still nothing! That is where I am and am praying for some help. It seemed so simple! I am not by any stretch a mechanic so I am probably missing something in front of my face. Please help. I need to get to work! Thanks!

[Doug Tatham]

I'm familiar with the 91 Jetta and if I remember, the 88 has a mechanical fuel injection system rather than electronic ignition. I've only looked at a couple and have never actually serviced one. I would check to see if you have fuel in the casing for the fuel pump to verify that the supply pump (in the trunk) is working. If there is, I'd remove the fuel pump and drain the fuel from it and let the gas dry. Apply 12v to it and see if it spins. Old gas can sometimes gum them up so that they don't turn. If you soak it in toluene or fuel system cleaner it will dissolve the gum.
Make sure that any gas has evaporated before you apply a voltage. Any spark will ignite it. I put alligator clips on my contacts first, then touch the other side to a battery charger set for trickle charge. I had to drain my gas tank and clean the pump three times before I worked all the old gas out.

[Doug Tatham]

I just noticed your other set of posts on this issue. Check your fuses! The fuses oxidize and don't make good contact. Remove the fuse for the fuel pump and clean it's contacts, then reinstall and check your voltage.

[bryant.barber]

Originally Posted by Doug Tatham

I'm familiar with the 91 Jetta and if I remember, the 88 has a mechanical fuel injection system rather than electronic ignition. I've only looked at a couple and have never actually serviced one. I would check to see if you have fuel in the casing for the fuel pump to verify that the supply pump (in the trunk) is working. If there is, I'd remove the fuel pump and drain the fuel from it and let the gas dry. Apply 12v to it and see if it spins. Old gas can sometimes gum them up so that they don't turn. If you soak it in toluene or fuel system cleaner it will dissolve the gum.
Make sure that any gas has evaporated before you apply a voltage. Any spark will ignite it. I put alligator clips on my contacts first, then touch the other side to a battery charger set for trickle charge. I had to drain my gas tank and clean the pump three times before I worked all the old gas out.

in 88 volkswagen switched from the cis-e injection system to the digfant-1(california model)&2 system on all cars except the 16v engines.