Engine sputters when started

[Ameer Antar]

These symptoms could mean lots of different problems, such as a vac. leak, bad sensors, malfunctioning Cold-start valve, fuel system stuff... You defintely should change the maintinence items like cap/rotor, plugs, filters, etc. if you don't know how old they are. At least you can eliminate those as possible culprits.

Vac. leaks are very common on these cars due to the long intake tract. Any hose from the air-flow meter onto the intake manifold can cause trouble if they're old, cracked, etc. The best way to check is to remove the hoses and carefully inspect b/c cracks are usually where you won't notice them, like near the clamps or on the underside where oil can pool.

Your sensors or something in the cold-start system could be messed up too. The best place for troubleshooting steps is a Bentley shop manual or you can also do some reading here: 

http://www.sjmautotechnik.com/trouble_shooting/trouble.html

good luck.
-Ameer

----Original Message----
Date: Thu, 28 Oct 2004 12:29:39 -0400
From: "films" <films at crazyralph.com>
Subject: Engine sputters when started
To: <quattro at audifans.com>
Message-ID: <001d01c4bd0b$52e9cb00$a8194344 at CrazyRalphFilms>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

Hi all,

I've posted a few times in the past regarding various problems with my
93 Audi Quattro.  After putting about $2,500 into it earlier this year,
things have been smooth sailing for a while.

The past couple weeks I've noticed that some mornings, the engine
sputters when I start it up.  It sputters for 5-10 seconds then runs
great.  Today it did the sputtering thing, then stalled out.  I waited a
few seconds, tried it again and it started fine.  This problem only
occurs when it's started and only after it's sat overnight, never any
other time.  Any idea what might be causing this?  I was thinking of
buying some new spark plugs and maybe a fuel filter, but figured I'd ask
the experts first!  =)

Many thanks,

Tony Urban



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