A6 won't start - Intermittent
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1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 382
A6 won't start - Intermittent
98 A6 Quattro 158k -
Car runs like a champ but will not start all of the sudden, on a cold start. It has done this 4 or 5 times over the last couple of years. I have driven the car on long trips and daily driving and cannot find any issues, no check engine light.
I know it is not the smartest but if I crank on it several times, several attempts over 10 minuets I can get the car running. This has been the way I get the car to start again after an issue where it won't start. I would like to find what is root of the issue and fix what needs fixing.
The car has a spark when I try to start it, it also has a strong gas smell when it won't start. I keep cranking on the key and then engine will try to start and not idle unless I keep turning the key. The electronics have power when I try to start it but car will just not start normal.
what should I check? any ideas of what could be causing the intermittent no start. The car is normally great but with this starting issues it is becoming less reliable.
Thanks.
Car runs like a champ but will not start all of the sudden, on a cold start. It has done this 4 or 5 times over the last couple of years. I have driven the car on long trips and daily driving and cannot find any issues, no check engine light.
I know it is not the smartest but if I crank on it several times, several attempts over 10 minuets I can get the car running. This has been the way I get the car to start again after an issue where it won't start. I would like to find what is root of the issue and fix what needs fixing.
The car has a spark when I try to start it, it also has a strong gas smell when it won't start. I keep cranking on the key and then engine will try to start and not idle unless I keep turning the key. The electronics have power when I try to start it but car will just not start normal.
what should I check? any ideas of what could be causing the intermittent no start. The car is normally great but with this starting issues it is becoming less reliable.
Thanks.
1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 272
From: Chesapeake Bay area, Virginia
It's possible you have a leaky fuel injector(s). When you stop the car, one cylinder floods through the injector until the pressure goes to 0psi and it takes a lot of cranking to get it going. A car with original injectors and this many miles could have this problem.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,430
From: Goodrich, Michigan
That's a tough one to diagnose remotely. You say the car has spark during the no start times, correct? The car smells of gas after cranking for a while during the no start condition, right? Gas + spark should give you something. You have scanned for codes and find none, correct? This only happens when the engine is cold, right?
I would start by testing the fuel pressure. If you have spark, only a lack of fuel will prevent it from starting, even if running rough. Your statement that sometimes you can keep it running with the starter motor helping also points to low fuel pressure.
Good luck,
Bob
I would start by testing the fuel pressure. If you have spark, only a lack of fuel will prevent it from starting, even if running rough. Your statement that sometimes you can keep it running with the starter motor helping also points to low fuel pressure.
Good luck,
Bob
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