[s-cars] Mysterious fuel pump problem at start

[Eric Phillips]

 Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2005 14:24:38 -0700
> From: hartmann <hartmann.schoebel at gmail.com>
> Subject: [s-cars] Mysterious fuel pump problem at start
>
> Here's a little intermittent problem I've been struggling with for a
> while.
>
> About eight months ago, my '95 S6 was driven from Santa Cruz to San
> Francisco and parked on a hill (facing up hill) for about 10 min. Came
> out, S6 wouldn't start. Moved the car to a flat spot and it started.
> This near exact thing happened three more times.
>
> Then it happened on the flat area at a gas station. After cranking the
> car for few minutes, I talked to the mechanic at the station and came to
> show him what was going on and ... yes, viola, the S6 starts without a
> problem. Clearly, the car is developing a sense of humor.
>
> With some help from Lou @ Dieter's in Mountain View, we tried a few
> things and with replacing the fuel pump relay, the problem vanished.
> Hooray!
>
> Until last week. It's back -- random fuel pump outage at startup. I
> think it's the relay again, but why would that happen twice? I'm
> wondering if there's another issue. You have any ideas?
>
> BTW, if the car starts, it runs fine. It has so far, never (knock on
> wood) had a problem after it starts.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Hartmann
> '95 S6

 Had this same problem (sort of - but still the mystery "won't start" at
random times, but never after it had been running a while) with my 1990 80q.
Did everything - multi-malfuntion temp sensor, relay, ignition switch - my
wife was about ready to have it towed to the scrap yard.
 I finally said "I'll throw in a fuel pump this weekend."
 Not a hiccup since. Replaced the filter at the same time, too.
 Cheap and easy. (Insert joke here.)
 Eric