88 5kq Will not start on damp January day, temp in 50's

[Kneale Brownson]

Run the engine when it's dark out and spray a mist of water around the
wires.  Bet you'll find you need new wires.


At 04:52 PM 1/30/2006 -0500, SJ wrote:
>Car wouldnt start today. Tried to catch once . .then it just cranks.
>
>Sprayed starting fluid into one of the bonnet hose inlets. No reaction, it
>just cranks.
>Took off Distributor cap, looked for carbon arc traces . .didnt notice any.
>. cleaned the cap insides. Tried starting - nope, it just cranks.
>Weather condition - rather warm for January, 50+F. Humid, damp .
>
>Over the last 2 weeks or so, I have noticed a bit of a miss under load when
>the engine was not fully warmed up. One plug maybe misfiring .. it was a
>subtle sympton.
>
>Put the battery on a charger. Came back after about 2 hours or so. Weather
>dried up a bit. Tried starting the engine . .vrooooom!
>
>I wrote about a similar problem before which happened to my other audi > 90
>100Q. No start on rainy damp day, temp around 50 F.
>http://www.audifans.com/pipermail/quattro/2003-December/085586.html
>Subject was: "Odd engine problem on a rainy day . . chug, chug, chug, chug"
>
>Looks like I'm having the same problem. Last time it was a no spark/bad
>spark/crossed spark that was causing the symptom due to carbon tracks inside
>the distrubutor cap.
>
>I ordered a new cap, rotor, and plugs. Will put them in tomorrow.
>I will write an update post in a couple of days after I test out the new
>parts.
>
>SJ
>85 Dodge PU, D-250, 318, auto
>85 Audi 4k - - sold but still on the road
>88 Audi 5kq
>90 Audi 100q
>
>
>
>
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