Cranks over but doesn't start 2.8
 

I have a 1999 A4 quattro 2.8 with ~91k miles.. Without any indication from driving the day before, the car now doesn't fire. It sputters a bit while cranking but that's about it. The spark plugswere wet when pulled and I can smell the fuel, checked spark while plugs were out and the sparklookedgood (can't seem to figure out why I have spark and a wet plug but hopefully that means something). I checked the ignition coils using the procedure in the Bently manual - secondary resistance measured correct through the plug wires and coils.The timing beltprobably has 5k miles on itand still looks great and snug.The car is not throwing any codes so I'm confused as to wherethe problem lies.It seems the engine is flooded when looking at the plugs.. Any ideas what could be causing this??

RE: Cranks over but doesn't start 2.8
 

More information.. While cranking thetechometer stays at 0.Trying to find more clues as I work on it tonight.

RE: Cranks over but doesn't start 2.8
 

2.8L engines have been known to get flooded when they get an insane amount of carbon build up on the intake valves. Let the car sit for a couple of hours, then take off the intake hose and just spray the living hell out of it with some carb cleaner while someone else is cranking the engine. After about half a can it should want to start firing. Once it does keep spraying it until it purrs like a kitten.
You should also check the fault codes.

RE: Cranks over but doesn't start 2.8
 

Hey man sounds like you're having the same problem i had a week ago! do this to find out if we have the same problem... (mines fixed already) start the car and hold the gas pedal down and see if the car stays on... keep it on for a little while then turn it of and report back here.

RE: Cranks over but doesn't start 2.8
 

you got spark and fuel but you forgot about air lol. do what auditech says, he's the man

RE: Cranks over but doesn't start 2.8
 

Tach reading zero while cranking, could mean bad
primary ignition circuit. Have codes read again.

RE: Cranks over but doesn't start 2.8
 

You can check the RPM sensor with the VAG COM while cranking, even so, if the RPM sensor wasn't working there would be no spark what so ever.

RE: Cranks over but doesn't start 2.8
 

I poured over a half a can of the carb cleaner while cranking (battery was dying out on me) with no luck. I charged the battery over night and now the car just crankings with no sputter every once and a while that it had before. I read the codes and found nothing again. No codes and no start. I'm going to check the basics again and retrace my steps.. spark, fuel, something really stupid, etc..

A VW mechanic suggested I pull the battery cables off the battery and short the red and black together to reset the computer. Also suggested I check the fuel pump relay but I can smell and see plenty of fuel when I remove the spark plugs.

I did try to start the car with the gas pedal all the way down and no luck. I'll report back later today.

Thanks for all the advice - please keep it coming..

RE: Cranks over but doesn't start 2.8
 

Well it might be left over fuel. First take off the fuel line to the fuel rail, should be a 14mm nut and a 17mm nut right next to each other. Take the line off and put in an empty water bottle or something and turn the key on, fuel should fill about half the water bottle. If no fuel comes out check for voltage at the fuel pump.
If fuel is present, take out the wires and ground them out while cranking, and have someone check for spark while cranking.

Then report back here.

Taking the battery cables off and touching them together is called a 30 power reset, it won't do anything for your problem.

RE: Cranks over but doesn't start 2.8
 

30Vquattro and Auditech79 - thanks, I'm humbled

After going through the basics again, it was difinitely flooded.. I tried cranking the car again with the pedal pressed to the floor as 30VQuattro suggested. Itstarted to fire after several tries. I had to give it a break and charge the battery a bit but eventully the car started.Good tip man - did you also clean out the intake with some carb cleaner after you got your engine running?

Audiotech79, I didn't perform the 30 power reset as you suggested. I'm greatful since I bought the car used and the radio code is missing from the manual.

After the car started, I took your original advice and sprayed the "living hell out of it"(whole can) of carb cleaner while the engine was running. Now it runs like nothing ever happened.

Thanks for all the advice guys - saved me time and $$. Hope I can return the favor some day.