Audi 80 Starting Problem

[Ben Swann]

Nick,

 

You need to determine exactly why it is not starting and/or cutting out - it
could be ignition related, or fuel/air mixture related.  

 

Often I have found some grit getting stuck in the fuel distributor plate that
keeps the plate from moving freely - this is usually the case with a car that
has not seen service for awhile.  K&N filters are notorious for this, and I
would start there - I recommend removing and replacing with a stock filter -
the periodic effort required to maintain these is not worth it unless you are
planning on servicing them every few months and the filters are cheap and
effective.  Clean the area well with carb cleaner or even better throttle
cleaner - I bet you find all kind of sand and junk in there. 

 

It may take a few hours, but you are best to remove the air intake "waffle"
boot and check the hoses and clan the throttle too.  Lift up the entire fuel
air distributor assembly when you replace the filter and give underneath a
good cleaning.  This service should last a while, and you are likely to find a
lot of broken or failing vacuum lines, so be armed with about 10' of vacuum
line - recommend the braided line from a dealer, but rubber line from local
parts stores is ok.

 

An air leak could be the cause too, but first you need to determine if it is a
fuel/air or a spark issue if the above cleaning does not resolve the problem.
There are a lot more possibilities, but I'd check with the throttle plate
cleaning next, as it does not sound like you have addressed this yet.

 

A bad ground can cause both fuel injection problems and ignition dropouts.
You may want to check and clean the grounds from the battery and install a
good 10 or at least 12 Guage ground loop from negative on the battery to the
head then to the ground on the manifold and around to the front - this will
provide many benefits including improved lighting, and I now do it on all the
cars I own and service.

 

Also, get yourself a Bentley service manual for the car.  There are many more
possibilities, but I'd start there, otherwise you'll get overwhelmed with too
many details.

 

Ben Swann - Annapolis, MD

http://www.gtquattro.com <http://www.gtquattro.com/> 

 

[Date: Mon, 6 Nov 2006 20:18:23 EST

From: Brame1 at aol.com

Subject: Audi 80 Starting Problem

To: Quattro at audifans.com

Message-ID: <c64.44f843c.328138df at aol.com>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

 

Good Afternoon,

 

My 1991 Audi 80 had a starting problem and I installed new Bosch  plugs, 

rotor cap and distributor which seemed to solve the problem.

 

It started very easily and ran very strong.  This past Thursday, I  added a 

can of BG44 to half of a tank of fuel, filled it and drove another 125  miles 

with no problem.

 

Saturday evening I drove approximately 22 miles to a church sponsored ham  

and oyster dinner in Washington DC.  I parked on a downhill slope.   After 

shutting the car off, I realized that I was not far enough away from a
driveway 

entrance and tried to restart the car.  I could not get it  started.

 

I went into the Church for dinner and returned approximately an hour and a  

half later and still could not start my car after numerous tries. I tried  

holding the accelerator to the floor: that did not work.  I tried letting  the
car 

sit for another hour;  that did not work.

 

I decided to just lock the car and come back, Sunday evening; which I  did.  

The car started immediately but did cut out a couple of times before  I was 

able to place it in Drive and get home. 

 

It ran very well until I got into my driveway and tried to turn it around  

when it cut out again .I tried to restart without any success.  I was able  to


push it into a spot on my driveway.

 

I just went outside at 2:15 PM EST and started it.  It cut out a  couple of 

times but restarted with no problem.  I let it fast idle for a  little bit but


when I took my foot of the accelerator it cut out and I was not  able to 

restart.

 

Any ideas or suggestion?  Fuel Filter?(Where is it?)  Air  Filter?  It has a 

K&N filter that has not been serviced in a long  time.  Oxygen Sensor?

 

The Bentley Manual does not show a fuel filter and does not provide good  

instruction on getting to the air filter.

 

Thanks In Advance for your help.

 

Nick Brame, CSA Darnestown, MD

(301) 840-5931]