hello all. i've recently purchased a 1999 a4 with 140,000. it is a 1.8t with a manual transmission. found this forum shortly after purchase and let me say, there is a ton of information on this board. one question i have, and i can't find another post about, is: once in a while, when i shut the car off to get gas for example, i get back in the car and try to re-start the car and it won't start. it will turn over but not fire. it will finally start when i give it a little gas. i scares the crap out of me because it will turn over forever but won't start until i give it gas! anybody have any thoughts?

thanks
rob
havercamp@aol.com

 

i had the same problem with my 90 honda..i know i know its not an audi, but it was the main relay was bad. dont know if that helps at all..sorry

 

Damn, 140,000miles......thats crazy, i don't think you should have purchased that my dude...

 

Welcome! 140k miles isnt too bad if its been maintained... I think your problem could be the coolant temperature sensor. Its a cheap part and was causing my maxima to have shady starts/operation and i replaced it and now its fine. At that mileage though, it could be a few different things like fuel filter/pump, check your plugs too. Its a good idea for you to just go over the entire car and replace whatever you can, because even if the seller told me they changed the plugs last week, id still change them because people that are trying to sell a car are generaly not 100% honest anyway. Its probably about time for a new timing belt for you also. Do you have maintnance records? You are running premium gas right? Your car has twice as many miles as mine and yours is only 1 year older... Where the hell was the previous owner driving to all the time????? They would have to be mostly highway miles on it right?

 

It took me a year to finally rid myself of that problem. Until then, I just kept the car idling when filling up.

Check for leaks in the EVAP system. On my car, there was a oneway valve that runs just behind the air filter box, that had rubbed causing a hole in the valve. I replaced that, and then found a cracked hose. I fixed both those and haven't had a problem since.

 

thanks for all the help. i'll try the coolant temp. sensor, the temp guage does seem wonder while driving. maybe thats it. i'll look for any leaks in any hoses also.

yes 140,000 is a crap load of miles. i normally wouldn't buy something with that many miles, but i need a car and it was REALLY cheap! it runs great, except for the starting problem, and all i've done to it is replace all the ball joints it and it is pretty tight! has good maintenance records so i think it will last me the year i need it too.

 

140,000 miles is nothing if its been maintained well plus you can pick them up cheaper a good way to but a quality car in my book

 

people are so gun shy of miles...i know high miles can lead to problems...but I want to take my car over 200k, maybe 300k miles someday....wouldnt it make you feel good that you are really getting your money's worth and driving the thing till it drops on the ground and cant move anymore

 

Coolant temp sensor. Had the same problem. get it Vagged to make sure.. F it,, just buy on . i think they are $15 for the blue tops and $6 for the green tops

 

My Audi has 135K miles. My last car lasted to 320K (Toyota).