My 95 S6 shut down on me on the way last tonight. No indications of anything wrong, it just shut off while driving and would not start back up. It cranks like it wants to start and occasionally sputters, but that's about it. Had it towed home.

A little background info: It has 137,000 miles. It was "dealer" equipped with Stage 1 chip at time of original sale. I have had it for six months and except for the ignition switch issue which I replaced, have not had a major problem. The coolant temp warning went off several times recently, but the guage didn't show a how time, in fact it looked low. Since the brake light also went off randomly, and I know the brakes were replaced recently, I chalked that up to an electrical issue. The aux water pump was replaced at 120k with a full dealer service.

Any thoughts on what my issue might be and how to correct it? New to this site...appreciate the help.

 

check fuses, ignition, full tank of gas, fuel filter, crank and cam position sensor. Could be a number of things. Check for spark, then fuel. Hope this helps...

 

Fuses appear to be fine. I pulled one the plugs and cranked it over and it does appear I have any spark. Thoughts?

 

Ground the plug to the block and crank in over. Better if it's dark to see if you have spark tho. internet search? maybe coils?

 

I'm guessing here, but crank position sensor under the front time belt pully. Symtoms, car will crank and never start. It will show up as a fault code if you scan it.

 

I checked again (at night this time) and I do have spark. I guess that leaves the fuel...either a fuel pump that quit or clogged filter. Is there anything else that would prevent it from starting? It's not misfiring or stumbling and dying, it just cranks and cranks and doesn't fire.

 

I bet your fuel pump failed. My wifes V6 Passat has gone through 2 fuel pumps in the past couple of weeks. The Audi/VW pumps are failing due to the ethanol levels in the fuel. Ethanol is corrosive and is wreaking havoc on the pump. Supposedly Sunoco has the highest level of ethanol in their gas.

 

is their an easy way to test that without hooking up a fuel pressure gauge?

 

Unfortunately, I don't know the answer to that question

 

you have to wait till dark to see a spark from the plugs?? it should be bright blue and can be heard easily when shorting the plug to ground, can you hear the fuel pump cycle when you turn the ignition on but don't start the engine it should cycle for approx 5 seconds?? the fuel pump relay is behind the dash near your normal fuses above the knee panel number 6 relay (there are 6 relays there your is the far right one #1 relay is the stsrter