No Start: Audi 100, 1990, I5 NF engine, non-turbo, non-quattro, CIS-E-111 (California)

[Tony Hoffman]

>
> On a 21 year old car getting it running any way that is reasonably
> affordable is the way to go at $80 an hour.  How many early fuel injection
> cars ended up running around with a switch to "hot wire" the fuel pump?
>
> How many hours of diagnostics does Marc have invested so far?
>
> I should pull out the schematics and see what that wire they grounded is
> doing...
>
> Oh, and by the way, when checking for continuity with an ohm meter, one is
> testing with very low current - I've seen circuits that tested "OK" that
> couldn't run a light bulb, for instance.
>

This last comment is very important for everyone to know. Just because you
see continuity, doesn't mean it can handle current.  Best to check for
ground with reference to power, with the key on. And, vise-versa for power,
in relation to ground.

Marc, if it were me, I'd start by swapping whatever unit is supposed to
supply that ground to everything that's not working, the Hall sender being
the obvious one.

As for the hours, here are my thoughts.

In my shop, I have a sliding scale for cars, the older they are, the lower
the hourly rate goes. However, even without that, every ethical independent
I've worked for charged far less hours than real time during diagnostics.
Recently, I had about 10 hours into troubleshooting an electrical problem in
an A4, but charged teh customer 2.5 hrs. Could I have charged 10 hours,
sure. But, then I would have a hard time sleeping at night. I charge what is
a fair rate, and both I and my customers are very happy, and I keep food on
the table.

That said, I only fix things in the shop one way: The right way. That is the
only way for a paid professional to repair anything. You can fix it yourself
at home with "duct tape and bailing wire", why would I charge you to pay me
as a professional to do the same? That would not be ethical on my part. None
of those cars with a switched wire running the fuel pump came from someone
paying me in a shop, I can tell you that.

Now, if there is a shortcut for the DIY'er, I'm all for it. But, it's not
the way things get done when I'm on professional time, being paid hard
earned money by a customer.

Tony