[urq] Push start required for this urq. Help

[Jeff Roberts]

Steve;

It sounds as if you car has more than one problem, so what I have to say may
not fix your starting issue completely.  I will relate a similar experience,
in the hope that it may do you some good, or give you a direction to look.
A few years ago, one of my quattros was a real pain to start.  It cranked
fine (for a quattro, anyway) but wouldn't start reliably.  I would crank it
for ten seconds or so, then release the key, to give the starter motor a
rest.  When I released the key, I noticed that it would try to fire on a
cylinder or two, as the engine was still turning over for a few revolutions.
If I tried to bump-start it, by parking it on the nearest hill, it would
start very easily, within a couple revolutions of the crank.  Although CIS
problems and vacuum leaks were standard equipment on every US spec urq ever
sold, I didn't think they were the issue, as the only differences between
starting hard and starting easily was the ignition key position and whether
or not the starter was operated.  Ergo, I figured this could be caused by a
couple of things.  Either the ignition switch was a bit funky and the
ignition wasn't getting power in the start position and was fine in the run
position OR the starter draw on the battery was reducing the voltage to a
point that the computer didn't get the voltage it needed to operate
correctly.  I can't say for sure what one thing fixed mine, as I did several
things at once (my car had other issues as well, which required that I fix
several things.)  I did fit a new ignition switch, I replaced the positive
battery cable that goes to the starter and I replaced several of the ground
straps.  I had already done the usual fuse box cleanup, added relays for
things that should have had them in the first place and performed most of
the other electrical fixes that you'll find in the archives.

If your car has a lot of miles, or sat outside a lot at some point, I
suspect the best thing you can do would be to go through the ENTIRE
electrical system.  You might as well get it over with, as you'll otherwise
have problems as long as you own the car.

Good luck,
JR