Car starts first time every time and runs great except if I stop for gas.

if I stop for gas and fill-up, the engine cranks but takes 4 or 5 attempts before it will start.

Any thoughts as to what might be the cause or solution?

thanks

 

Hmm. Is it everytime you fill up? I'd say check and make sure the gas cap seal is still ok, but that would cause the CEL to come on. Does your center display say anything right after the car starts? Or does it just say "OK" like after a normal start. You could take it to your mechanic and see if it has stored any error codes or not.

 

might be a hot start problem you dont have trouble starting when the cars hot at other times than this?

 

Could be your fuel line. Sometimes a bad fuel line (or bad control pressure regulator) takes a few attempts at starting the car before the line is fully pressurized. Seeing as how you get this when you gas up, after removing the gas cap and depressurizing the tank... hmm never know. Does it idle like crap for a bit after you finally get it going?

Hot start problem also usually points to plugs, plug wires, or leaky injectors.

 

Tank is near vacuum with a good cap.

 

This is not a hot start problem. The car starts first time, every time whether cold or hot. The only time there is a problem is if I stop for gas and remove the gas cap.
Under normal conditions, the car shows OK after startup.

Any help would be appreciated.

In the mean time, I'll try a workaround of keeping the car running during filling and allow the tank to pressurize.

Thanks for any suggestions

 

see me post above about control pressure regulator.

 

Could be the pressure regulator. My current work-around is to fill up with the engine running and drive off (after paying). No problems occur if I try to restart after driving a couple of miles.

 

Take it to a mechanic and pay them to do a diagnostic on it

 

or just get a vag-com and save hundreds in the long run... most of the time with issues that are hard to reproduce for a mechanic and even if they do pull codes they just send you away and say come back if it happens again after charging you $85 for diagnostics