Re: Fuel pump failures - the cure

[QSHIPQ@aol.com]

In a message dated 97-09-17 13:18:51 EDT, you write:

<< <<This past weekend, I had the FOURTH fuel pump failure of the year in my
 family's fleet of cars, the fuel pump in my 200q being the most recent
 victim.<snip>On the counter inside the station (Chevron) was a pamphlet
 explaining that the fuel systems in some "older" cars -- which it defined as
 pre-1990! -- may not be compatible with the latest oxygenated fuels and
 increased wear and/or premature failure of rubber parts may result ... has
 anyone else in Arizona or California had
 problems using this stuff in their Audis or is the high failure rate I'm
 experiencing just a statistical fluke?>> >>
A few btdt on this subject.  Audi has a technical bulletin out regarding the
"noisy fuel pump"/continued stalling" on some of the earlier pre 88 turbo
cars.  Apparently there is a coating in the tank that deteriorates over time
that gets caught in the screen at the bottom of the fuel pump.  On further
investigation, I found my wagon to be out of the cutoff VIN for the bulletin,
but decided to investigate regardless.  

Sure enough, after the 3rd FP, I did find that the screen was blocked after
totally taking apart the FP and FP mounting baffle in the bottom of the tank.
 The tech bulletin indicates to remove the FP, get a sharp (MacGuyver knife
for me) knife and cut the screen off the bottom of the pump.  Make sure to
get all the potential schrapnel from around the screen mount, and reinstall.
 The blocked screen still sits in my office.  Putting it up to light, one is
amazed that the car even ran.  

For those of you that think this might not be wise, be advised, that the FP
is sealed inside the antislosh baffle, and THAT baffle is screened as well.
 So really audi outdid themselves once again in design.  I ran techron thru a
tank of gas following the procedure above, then changed oil and the FF.  No
problems since, though the thought of running that silt thru the engine
wasn't so comforting.

On a fuel note:  Bosch does not recommend the use of ethenol/methanol based
fuel additives (a benign warning in your owners manual).  My contact at bosch
indicated, that especially on the CIS/CIS-E/CIS III) this warning is
imperative.  Some folks don't have a choice, but when you do...

HTH

Scott Justusson
'87 5ktqwRS2
'84 Urq