Stacked Problems on Older Cars - a 7A story

[Christopher Gharibo]

My initial symptoms were close to impossible, embrassing winter starts,
needing major throttle on all starts and 15 MPG. Car started fine in the
summer but poor gas mileage and throttled starts remained. There were never
any codes. I had zero faith in the wrenches around me. 

Phase 1: clean ISV, check vacuum lines, change plugs, FPR, fuel pump, fuel
filter, MFTS, reference sensor, Hall sensor and it was clear I dont know what
the hell I am doing except wasting time and money. I had to fix this as I was
dreading winter's cold starts. 

Phase 2: I dived into Bentley over the summer of 2019 and purchased the VAG
software. The 10 "measuring blocks" were way off - coolant temp sensor value
was low, timing, ISV and CO values (channel 8) were way off. What an ECU mess
and I can barely change the oil and parts on my car!

Over the summer, I changed the coolant temp sensor and fixed its
disintegrating connector and, somehow, I got the timing measuring block smack
at 0... by August. Then... using VAG, I adjusted the idle speed and then the
CO by November. The ISV connector disintegrated in my hands and that also got
a connector overhaul.

The car now started a lot easier in the winter but still needed throttle, hot
or cold. The mileage improved to about 21 MPG and the car seriously smoothed
out. It was a dream to drive, once it started. Excessive cranking on start and
using throttle to get it started was just embrassing being surrounded by all
the new cars around me.

I just went through my vacuum lines and found two cracked vacuum lines and the
car started right up several times already. I smell victory.

I'll keep everyone in the loop and a big thanks to everyone that helped me
along the way.

CG


------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2020 13:25:10 -0500
> From: Huw Powell <audi at humanspeakers.com>
> To: quattro at audifans.com
> Subject: Re: Excessive cranking & carb cleaner near exhaust manifold
> 	stalls car
> Message-ID: <753554f5-7566-c318-f287-a54487d98ff6 at humanspeakers.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
> 
> Your assumption doesn't make sense to me.
> 
> How could a place that exhaust is leaking out under pressure draw in 
> carb cleaner and stall the engine?
> 
> Use a smoke machine to find your intake tract leak(s). They are very 
> simple. Any auto shop should have one.
> 
> As far as the excessive cranking, maybe there is a fix (or multiple 
> fixes), but the car *is* 29 years old. That said, my '88 usually starts 
> quickly. But the passenger seat belt is tricky to use.
> 
> - Huw
> 
> On 1/2/2020 6:55 AM, Christopher Gharibo wrote:
> > My '91 coupe always needs excessive cranking to start unless I use
throttle,
> > hot or cold. My ISV is new and gets power. Idle speed and CO are factory
spec.
> > 
> > 
> > As I spray carb cleaner to find a stubborn vacuum leak near the exhaust
> > manifold, my car stalls.
> > 
> > I am assuming this is my exhaust manifold or gasket. Is this tough to
> > replace?
> > 
> > Any suggestions on excessive cranking? There does not appear to be a
vacuum
> > leak.
> > 
> > Thanks!
> > 
> > CG
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
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> End of quattro Digest, Vol 190, Issue 1
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