[s-cars] Da Fuel Pump Blues

[Dave Forgie]

Ba da dah dum
I got the blues
Ba da dah dum
I got no pump
I got no fuel
I got dem low down mean' Audi fuel pump blues
(sounds of screaming and gunshots in the background)
Oh Lord I got dem fuel pump blues

Two questions for the list:

1) Why do I like my car?
2)  How could I have prevented the following situation?

Last week, one coolish morning, the car took a little longer than normal
cranking before it started.  I knew it was an issue (tip of iceberg) but
which one??  Thermostat probably stuck open. Multidysfunctional switch
may be on its way to Himmel.  But what?  Back to normal that evening and
every day since, including yesterday (Thursday AM).

Thursday noon, I had to take a ferry (thats a car boat for those in
Arizona) to go to Vancouver Island,  to Sooke (home of the Sooke Harbour
House) (32 km (20 mi) west of Victoria), to make a presentation
(wastewater treatment related) at public meeting (I get ALL the fun
jobs).  After the meeting (10:30 PM), I go out the car, get in and try
to start it.  Wouldn't start.  It tried to catch on the first attempt
but it sputtered and then nothing.  Several attempts = nothing.  Tried
again this (Friday)  morning.  Cranked like the band.  No go.  Dolly
towed to Speedway Motors, the Victoria Audi (Porsche/VW) dealer
(thankfully I have CAA plus).  Two hours of diagnoses. (Including my
"multidysfunctional switch" red herring). Answer: Fuel Pump.  Naturally
it's special.  None in stock. None in Victoria.  Has to come out of
Toronto.  I came home on the bus (overnight bag, lap top, computer
projector). Joy.  Have to go back Wednesday (by bus and ferry) at the
soonest to retrieve the car (and pay $$$).

How could I have seen this coming?  And how do I prevent it from
happening again (and stranding me somewhere even more difficult)?

Dave (longing for some reliability to go with the performance) Forgie