still battling hard start/cold start - more info

[scott thomas]

I have the identical problem with my 90 200q. It
does start, however. I crank for 3-4 seconds,
then crank again and it always starts, but chugs
along for a few seconds. There is another
symptom of my problem: after being off for a few
hours, I turn the key in run (my fuel pump is
jumpered) and I can hear the fuel pump building
up pressure until the system is fuel, then it
sounds labored. I'm wondering about the check
valve, but also, I have a faint fuel smell
sometimes, but no leaks.

I cleaned the injectors, but I don't think
they're the problem.

In the past, I've found that if there's alot of
oil on the air flow sensor plate, that screws up
starting. The oil gums up, esp in the cold. I
cleaned off my plate about an hour ago and it
did make a difference.

Keep in touch
---- Begin Original Message ----

From: "Keith Lawyer" <LawyerKG at co.laplata.co.us>
Sent: Tue, 13 Aug 2002 16:37:28 -0600
To: <quattro at audifans.com>
Subject: still battling hard start/cold start -
more info


BRIEF REVIEW: my hard start/cold start problem
is: after sitting for 4-5
hours or more, my '90 200tq is difficult to
start regardless of outside
temp.  I must crank, stop, crank, stop, crank,
etc... start!!!  I will
say that sometimes it idles very poorly for the
first 10 seconds or so
once running.

NEW INFO:  I discovered that if I allow more
time - approx 30 seconds -
after the first time cranking it fires right up
on the 2nd try.  If I
wait only 3-5 seconds between attempts I must
try several times, each
time with increased success until it finally
starts.  What could be
happening during this 30 seconds after the first
cranking attempt????
Once running I can kill it and restart easily
until it sits for 4-5
hours again.

MORE NEW INFO:  I discovered I can reproduce the
problem by pulling the
connector on the ISV and allowing the car to
chug and die as a result.
If I then replace the connector, turn the
ignition entirely off so as to
"reset" power to the ISV, and try to re-start
I'm back to crank, pause,
crank, pause, crank, start.

WHAT'S NEW:  ISV temp sensor, coolant temp
sensor.  Swapped in
different ISV from parts car, cleaned both ISV's
w/carb cleaner.

ALSO: tried jumpering the fuel pump for up to 45
seconds in the morning
thinking I was losing fuel pressure.  I can hear
the pump run and hear
things gurgle/flow up at the motor, but this
makes ZERO difference in
the behavior of the hard start problem.

Any help is appreciated, I'm at a loss.  I can't
seem to find any
problem exactly like this in the archives.  The
car happily holds 1.4
and does not overboost so I'm ass-uming no vac
leaks.

Keith L
'90 200tqa


---- End Original Message ----



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