Just a thought Patsy, but did you attempt to adjust the idle with the throttle linkage disconnected? I was thinking about this, and you recently replaced the leaky hand pump, perhaps the PO, attempted to overcome fuel starvation by tightening the linkage to increase idle speed.

Just a guess.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.