Hey everybody,

My car is a 1999 Audi A6 Quattro 2.8L V6, 125k miles.

After the last time I got my oil changed, I have noticed that I don't get the acceleration that I used to get. In fact, from about 1200RPM to 1800RPM, if I give it too much gas, the car starts sputtering and won't accelerate. I have to ease off and after it gets past about 1800RPM it will run fine.

Today, while driving I pulled up to a stop light, and when it turned green and I pressed the gas it started sputtering right away and the car felt like it was dying. I pulled off the road into a parking lot where the car did sputter out and die. It won't start now. The starter tries to turn over, but it feels like it either is flooded or isn't getting gas pushed in to start the car.

I talked to a couple friends that know a bit about cars in general, and they thought that it might be the fuel pump, fuel injectors, or that the car isn't getting enough air, and is getting flooded with fuel.

With respect to the last theory, when I got my oil changed the last time, they showed me the air filter and it was dirty, and they recommended I replace it, however I declined to do so at that time. Could that be a possible problem? I am thinking it is a clogged, dirty air filter and it isn't getting enough oxygen into the fuel?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, as my car is sitting in a parking lot. I don't really want to have to have it towed, diagnostics run, etc., if it could be something as simple as replacing an air filter.

Thanks so much in advance!