My 2001 A6 has an issue. Sometimes, not all the time but its getting more frequent, it wont start. It turns over fine but it wont start on the first 5 or 6 turns of the key. When it does it slowly comes to life. Almost as though i had run out of gas, but its full. I also smell gas fumes while this is happening. Anyone experience this? What can I do? I'm pretty handy and would love to be able to try and fix this myself, but don't know where to start. Any help would be great. Thanks

 

Is this a 2.8L by chance? If it is its got carbon build up on the intake valves. You need to get a few cans of carb cleaner and spray it down the intake while cranking the motor. Empty both cans, it may back fire from time to time when running. Just have someone else keeping the RPM's up while you spray this in the intake, because the carb cleaner will bog down the motor.

 

i second auditech.....my old 98 A4 with the 2.8 used to do that and I did a seafoam treatment through the intake and it pretty much cleared it up.

 

It's not a 2.8. It's a 2.7T. Would that make a big difference? Thanks for the replys btw

 

Sounds like a fuel pump to me. Could be a clogged fuel filter. Have you changed it?

Bob

 

It's worth replacing the fuel filter because it's easy and you just should. Everyone forgets about that filter. I had a truck that was slow starting just like you descibed and it was a clogged filter. It just took an extra minute or so and some extra cranks for the fuel pressure to build through all of the crap in the filter. If it was a fuel pump it would most likely work better when cold and cut out when hot so I doubt it's that. The fuel filter is under the rear passenger door. If that does not work test your fuel pressure, spark and compression. Which ever is not happening will lead you in the direction you need to go.

 

I haven't replaced it yet. I went on vacation the day I made the post. Next weekend when I get home I'll change the fuel filter and go from there. Hopefully that's the issue. Would the filter cause me to smell gas?

 

I had this same issue and I replaced that fuel filter and haven't had any problems since then.