Are you suppose to hear the fuel pump priming? My 2006 Audi A6 has a hard start when it sits for a long time only….it takes awhile to start my Audi but after it starts it works fine until it sits for like 5 hours. There is no priming noise when I turn the key on before i start my car. It also has smoke coming out the exhaust for awhile and then it does away. It also idles rough for a few minutes then runs fine. Could it be a fuel pump, plugged fuel filter? It takes about 4 or 5 cranks to get it to start. Any help would be great.

 

The fuel pump does run momentarily to pressurize the system, before starting. I'm guessing this is controlled by a relay...as it was on our Jag. You can stoop down by the front of the right-side rear wheel and hear the pump run momentarily before starting.

I just changed our fuel filter. Once I drained the filter into a plastic cup and saw how black the drained liquid was, I was amazed it ran as well as it did. My guess is your problem is most likely a combination of issues...fuel filter, MAF and possibly Throttle Body need cleaning etc. All the "usual suspects".

Good luck.

 

Any check engine light? I would have it scanned for any pending codes if the light is not on. Preferably with a VAG-COM , they are much better for reading "pending codes".