The car is a 98 A4 2.8q, 5-speed stick. I had parked the car on the street to drop off my neighbors' mail, and was walking back towards it when it abruptly died. The check engine light was on and the car wouldn't restart. I was facing down on a hill just near my house, so I rolled it down and parked it out front. Then I whipped out the Haynes manual. I thought it was probably electrical, because there weren't any funny noises, it died suddenly, and it cranks fine. The manual lists only two causes I couldn't rule out--that there was some kind of electrical problem in the "starting circuit" or that there was a defective MAF sensor.

That last one caught my eye because I'd been noticing a weird, fast clicking sound--like a pen--coming from the sensor, or an area right near it-not the engine itself. I'm no mechanic but there aren't any moving parts to one of these are there? Is there any way to determine if it could be bad? Or is that idea totally wrong/the manual is full of crap? Any suggestions, or ideas?

 

Get it scanned and post up the codes. Autozone does free scans or you can check out the VAG-COM locator.

 

facing down hill "how steep" fuel just a thought, put the car on level ground see if it starts