1998 A4 Won't Start
 

My sister has a 1998 A4 2.8 Quattro (Automatic) - for the past few
weeks, the car has not been starting reliably, and is now at the point
where it will start only once a day. It has been to two different
shops- an Audi dealership and a small, independent specialist- but no
one can determine the source of this problem. Has anyone else had a
similar issue? Suggestions?

1998 A4 Won't Start
 

Mike,
Did it start it's downhill slide gradually, or all of a sudden? Bad tank of
gas? Need a new fuel filter? What codes has it thrown?
Cheers!
Steve Sears
1987 Audi 5kTQ
1980 Audi 5k
1962 and '64 Auto Union DKW Junior deLuxes
(SPAM Blocker NOTE: Remove SHOES to reply)

"mike(dot)robb23 at gmail dot com" > wrote in message
ps.com...
> My sister has a 1998 A4 2.8 Quattro (Automatic) - for the past few
> weeks, the car has not been starting reliably, and is now at the point
> where it will start only once a day. It has been to two different
> shops- an Audi dealership and a small, independent specialist- but no
> one can determine the source of this problem. Has anyone else had a
> similar issue? Suggestions?
>

1998 A4 Won't Start
 

Hi Steve- I sent your response to my sister, and this is what she came
back with:

hmmm lets see whats been done so far.... And its been doing this since
July- gradually becoming less and less dependent... no codes that I
know of, but mike at european auto may test this again....
Stuff done:
New fuel filter, spark plugs, ignition switch... Always use 93 octane
level gas, so gas should not be a problem.
No rhyme or reason to the when and where it'll start. When it does not,
its not permanant, but usually lasts about 30-40 min while i keep
trying and crying eventually helps too. :-)

Any ideas?
Thank you!
-Mike

1998 A4 Won't Start
 

Mike,
Crying helps? wow - maybe the tears are actuating the "Empathy Module"?
Hmmm....it sounds like something is overheating. Basically, you need gas
and a spark to make it run. My 1987 5ktq has behaved poorly with hot
starts, but not to the extent you describe. In the 5ktq case, it has a lot
to do with leaking injectors and vapour lock - as the exhaust manifold is
under the fuel lines, you can easily heat the fuel in the lines to the point
that they will vapour lock. The release of fuel pressure from the system,
whether from leaking injectors of from a leaky fuel check valve, may cause
difficult starting, especially if the injectors leak and flood the engine.
I would attempt to duplicate the failure mode at European Auto (I know,
it'll be tough to do because the car will "know" you're there), and then
check for fuel and spark. Then troubleshoot from there - check fuel
pressures if no fuel (also faulty fuel pump, leaking injectors, even a lack
of a signal from the computer to turn the fuel pump on - my 5ktq uses the
RPM sensor to make sure the car is running before turning the fuel pump on)
The A4 folks will tell you if the failure of the Mass Airflow Sensor or the
Oxygen sensor will throw codes - I suspect they would. If there's no spark,
I would look to the wires, coils (coilpack failure? they _never_ fail,
right???? - wrong) - computer? C'mon Ronny....a little help here.....
You might also try the A4 forum at Audiworld if you haven't already.
Cheers!
Steve Sears
1987 Audi 5kTQ
1980 Audi 5k
1962 and '64 Auto Union DKW Junior deLuxes
(SPAM Blocker NOTE: Remove SHOES to reply)


"mike(dot)robb23 at gmail dot com" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Hi Steve- I sent your response to my sister, and this is what she came
> back with:
>
> hmmm lets see whats been done so far.... And its been doing this since
> July- gradually becoming less and less dependent... no codes that I
> know of, but mike at european auto may test this again....
> Stuff done:
> New fuel filter, spark plugs, ignition switch... Always use 93 octane
> level gas, so gas should not be a problem.
> No rhyme or reason to the when and where it'll start. When it does not,
> its not permanant, but usually lasts about 30-40 min while i keep
> trying and crying eventually helps too. :-)
>
> Any ideas?
> Thank you!
> -Mike
>

1998 A4 Won't Start
 

Ed-

Yes, it turns over, but does not start. My sister talked with the
people working on it, and they mentioned something about a sensor
sending too much fuel to the engine and flooding it immediately... does
that sound familiar at all?

1998 A4 Won't Start
 

"Ed H." > wrote in message
...
> "mike(dot)robb23 at gmail dot com" > wrote:
>
>>Ed-
>>
>>Yes, it turns over, but does not start. My sister talked with the
>>people working on it, and they mentioned something about a sensor
>>sending too much fuel to the engine and flooding it immediately... does
>>that sound familiar at all?
>
> No, totally different. My car didn't do anything. Not even a
> "click" when you turned the key. Wait a fwe minutes and try again
> and it would work. Sorry.

Sounds like the Immobilizer not validating the key. A common fault is the
coil in the ignition-cylinder (dont know if its the right word - im not a
native englishman. But it´s the place where you insert the key :o)). Try to
clean the keys for "gunk". If that doesnt work, then its off to the dealer,
and have them check the coil.

--
Gio

1998 A4 Won't Start
 

"Gio" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Ed H." > wrote in message
> ...
>> "mike(dot)robb23 at gmail dot com" > wrote:
>>
>>>Ed-
>>>
>>>Yes, it turns over, but does not start. My sister talked with the
>>>people working on it, and they mentioned something about a sensor
>>>sending too much fuel to the engine and flooding it immediately... does
>>>that sound familiar at all?
>>
>> No, totally different. My car didn't do anything. Not even a
>> "click" when you turned the key. Wait a fwe minutes and try again
>> and it would work. Sorry.
>
> Sounds like the Immobilizer not validating the key. A common fault is the
> coil in the ignition-cylinder (dont know if its the right word - im not a
> native englishman. But it´s the place where you insert the key :o)). Try
> to clean the keys for "gunk". If that doesnt work, then its off to the
> dealer, and have them check the coil.
>
> --
> Gio
>
>

Did you try a diffrent key? I had a key go faulty once, it would just turn
over start for a second then stop, it ws the chip in the key that was
faulty,

Steve.

1998 A4 Won't Start
 

My sister picked the car up from the shop yesterday...

they ended up replacing a sensor that was falsely reporting the engine
temperature to be too high, and so far, so good.