'98 a6q 2.8 aha

Drove home from work. No problem or even a clue of a problem.
Car sits for about 1.5 hours. Get in to leave and car won't start.

Here are things I know:

-It turns over
-It has gas -- at least the gas gauge says it does
-I'm not sure if I can hear the fuel pump running when I turn the key on
I did not have enough time to open the hood and listen for the fuel pump.
-I do have vag com but have not checked for codes yet.


Are there any other obvious things I need to check.

Thanks.

 

You should be able to hear the pump priming from inside of the car.

 

I have finally had a chance to check some things out.

There are no engine codes.

The fuel pump has 4 or so volts at the connector when the key is in the on position.
When I begin to start the car, it goes to 10V

If I jump the pump from the fuse panel, I get 12V at the connector.

I can hear (just barely) the pump when when I jump it from the fuse panel.

I have not checked the spark yet.


I'm not sure it is even a fuel pump issue. That is just where I am beginning.


Any suggestions or clues?

Thanks

 

icm maybe

 

I think I have traced the problem to the fuel pump.

I removed the return line off the fuel rail. Hooked a tube in a container and jumped the pump at the fuse and ....nothing.

Then I gained access to the fuel pump housing under the rear seat, and placed a hose directly to the send port, jumped the fuse and ....nothing again.

I can hear the pump wanting to do something. It kind of sounds like it is trying to spin, but it is hitting something. Like a soft thud.

I was going to remove the pump from the accumulator, but I could not figure it out.
The Bentley manual is too vague.

To remove the fuel pump module (G6), the manual says:
-Release the fuel distributor
-Disconnect return line from distributor

Ok.

To release the distributor, the manual says:
-Attached to accumulator with 3 tabs
-Push toward left to release

It is very hard to see stuff inside the fuel tank.
If I push the distributor to the left, I'm afraid I'm going to break something.


How do I get the fuel pump out?


Thanks.

 

One more thing,

After I put the hose directly on the outlet of the pump housing under the seat,
I tried to pull some fuel with my mouth and it was locked up tight.

I could not even pull air.

Is this part of the design of the system... to maintain the pressure,
or is this the sign of a problem?