Re: Please help! Dealer can't fix my starting problem! '85 4000SQ

["Mark Rutherford" <mark@afnetinc.com>]

My Coupe had a problem that sounds like yours.  Turned out to be a bad
ignition switch.  It acted exactly like what you are describing.

mark@afnetinc.com

-----Orginal Message-----
From: J Baker <jbaker7@yahoo.com>
To: quattro@coimbra.ans.net <quattro@coimbra.ans.net>
Date: Saturday, September 19, 1998 9:44 AM
Subject: Please help! Dealer can't fix my starting problem! '85 4000SQ


>I've got a strange starting problem that the dealer can't fix.
>
>It started around the same time that I got a small fuel leak out of
>the bottom of the air filter housing.  They replaced the unit on top
>of the housing, where they said the fuel was leaking from (I think
>it's called the fuel distributor).  Fuel still leaked a little, so
>they said they tuned it up and it stopped leaking.
>
>However, I have a terrible starting problem which started around the
>same time.  Here's the symptoms:  The car will start only
>occasionally. Most of the time it just cranks and cranks.  I'm getting
>a spark at the plugs. It fails to start when hot, cold, when it's JUST
>been turned off, and when it's been sitting overnight.  The temps have
>been cool to hot, and that doesn't seem to affect it either.  Also
>occasionally the ignition key gets quite hot, and I get a small pop
>now and then that's either the suspension or a slight backfire.  (I
>know I have a front suspension popping noise, but this seems to happen
>driving at constant speeds without turning or bumps.)  I have had
>frayed wires going into
>the driver's door (power mirrors) and trunk (tail lights).  I wrapped
>them in electrical tape as a temporary solution - it's possible they
>are shorting again.
>
>Things I've replaced recently with no effect: oxygen sensor, plugs,
>wires, rotor, dist. cap, ignition coil.
>
>Recently it is also stalling on me and won't restart.  I'll be driving
>at 40MPH, and the RPMs suddenly drop to zero.  Now when I try to
>restart it, I have a new buzzing noise from the fuel pump and it won't
>start
>at all.  So I had it towed back to the dealer.
>
>The dealer has had it a week.  First they replaced the hull sender
>in the distributor (the power dist.), which did NOTHING.  They
>put the old one back in, and replaced some damaged wires under
>the dash (I did have a ground wire fly once and had to replace it -
>maybe it damaged some other wires).  They SAID that it started
>fine after that, but when I went to get it - same old problem.
>
>So what should they be checking for now?  They seem to have no
>idea what the problem is, and keep talking about the new A4.
>(Though I think they honestly can't find my problem.)  I love
>my 4000 and am sick about this!  Please help me :-o...
>
>John
>jbaker7@yahoo.com
>
>
>
>
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