Thanks for the input. I took it to a mechanic and he said everything was fine, that it was probably air in the fuel line because the car had been sitting on the lot for a month or more on empty. I hope so anyway

 

could be oil temp sensor maybe? i had that happen to me not so long ago. it didnt happen all the time and usually it would start after first or 2nd try and would drive perfectly fine afterwards. usually only did it to me when the car hasnt been driven for a few hours. started fine after i got that replaced. i have a 2.8 also.

 

when that happened to me it ended up bein my engine coolant temp sensor. did the CEL ever come on?

 

^^^ yea thats what i mean. engine coolant temp sensor lol .. oops

 

No, no warning lights came on or anything. The mechanic said it was just air in the fuel line caused by sitting on the lot on empty. I hope so.

 

Well, I guess my mechanic was wrong about air in the fuel line because it happened again today...how much was it to replace the engine coolant sensor?

 

I am having the same thing going on with my 98 A4 2.8. It seems to happen more when parked on a hill. It will try to start and sometime it will hesitate before starting correctly. So it will go from trying to start to almost starting back to trying to start and then finaly starting after about 5 seconds. Its very strange. Plus I hear what seems to be bubling comming from the gas tank. The sound comes from the back seat. It sound like air is being pushed out of a tube underwater.

 

Problem solved! It was in fact the engine coolant temperature sensor...$40 for a new one. Not bad.