[s-cars] Hi Mileage S6, what would you do? Also S6 No Start Update

[Dave Forgie]

Dave:  I agree with Forrest Bradshaw's list.  Some of those need to be
done but only a few of them will actually strand you on the side of the
road.  In my experience, these are the cam position sensor (CPS)  and
the fuel pump.

The cam sensor will probably throw a Check Engine light (CEL) to give
you a bit of a heads up - but not much. The problem is if you get a CEL
and you turn the engine off to check whatever it is, the engine may not
restart because the ECU looks to the CPS for a signal before it will
trigger the fuel pump to come on.  No signal = no fuel = Stranded.  I am
a strong advocate of replacing the CPS at the second timing belt change,
if not before.

In my experience, the original fuel pumps are good to about 100,000 mi
(160,000 km) - after that, you are living on borrowed time.  The fuel
pump will just fail.  Period.  Minimal subtle warnings (no CEL), like a
little longer to start one morning.  When mine failed, I had this
warning sign which, like a minor chest pain, I ignored. I then set off
on a trip.  Car was fine that day but after being parked for a night
meeting, it refused to start - the fuel pump had failed.  Since I was
away from home and away from my mechanic, the car had to be flat-bedded
to the nearest dealer who proceded to economically 'rape' me. ($800 to
install a $120 pump).

I have since replaced that pump (a perfectly good VDO) with a Bosch as a
potential solution for RS2-related fueling issue.  I wrote a procedure
up which you may want to follow.  It isn't that difficult if your tank
level is down (which you can arrange IF you do a pre-emptive replacement
- which I advocate):

http://forums.audiworld.com/s4s6/msgs/86586.phtml

Dave F.