boost problem solved (I think)

[Chewy4000 at aol.com]

In a message dated Sat, 22 Jun 2002 10:01:03 PM Eastern Standard Time, dans at audifans.com writes:

>
>
> OK, here's the cliff notes as it's late.
> I set out to tackle replacing the distributor, saving myself a 2.5hr
> round trip to my local Audi specialist.
>
> I set the engine at TDC, indicated by the 0 in the (tiny) window above
> the transmission.  I did this by having the car on a slight downhill, in
> 5th gear, and a helper on/off the brake as I literally hovered over the
> hood trying to see in.
>
> Once at 0, I removed the distributor by first chiseling off the
> protective cover and bolt, removed the 13mm nut and "yoke" holding the
> dist on.  I then verified that the gear was only slightly worn, but the
> dist had considerable play in it, compared to new.
>
> I lined up the rotor, hash mark on the round piece below it, and the
> hash on the body of the distributor, and inserted it with the hall
> sensor connection at about 2oclock, as you look at the dist from the
> drivers side.
>
> The car would not start.  Verified wire connections, etc as you know
> (thanks to Brett, Paul Royal and Peter S. for calling in with
> advice/comparisions).
>
> Had dinner, came back out with a mag lite to try to loosen the 13mm nut
> enough to rotate the dist.  Succeeded after some time (coming in from
> the firewall this time, cap and wires still on!) and rotated the dist
> counterclockwise as my brother in law cranked the engine.  nothing.  I
> was hitting the manifold, so I went back the other way.  At some point,
> vroom.
>
> The hall sensor is now at around 7 or 8 oclock, but the car starts.
> I went for a quick test drive and it held boost in 3rd and 4th gears
> uphill, which before it did not (digital gauge showing 1.7, analog
> around 13psi).
>
> I'm not sure what all this means.  Could it be that the engine was
> already 180 degrees off, and my rotation just compensated for this?  Or,
> am I the one who is off?  I'm not sure if I should leave it
> like this or
> have it checked out, you tell me.
>
> I didn't even tighten the nut yet, but will do so tomorrow.
>
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So Dan, like I said most likely it was your distributor as per Ned's theory.
Did you have the plastic gear still in the car?
I guess you could put back all those other parts you had changed before the ditributor then.
The onl other thing Ned told me to do is, since there is a little margin on the ditributor, try to set it as much clockwise but alowwing the car to start.
This worked for me atleast.

Chewy
Newark NJ