Re: More weird start problems

[rdh@sli.com (Robert D. Houk)]

   Well, kind of.

   I've got the *warm* (not hot) start problem in my '81 4k.  The
   problem, though, seems to be flooding, not lack of fuel - at least
   this is what I concluded b/c of the cloud of petrol smoke when it
   finally catches after I drop the wiring off the C/S injector.  My
   question:  I never have this problem when hot, only after leaving
   the car for maybe 4 hours;  if it's the thermo-time switch staying
   closed all the time, why does it start ok when hot?  Is this b/c the
   excess fuel vaporises faster & therefore isn't a problem?  Has anyone 
   had a problem with a ther/time switch going closed circuit all the 
   time?

Could be the thermoswith closing at too high a temp, thus flooding a
still-warm-doesn't-need-enrichment engine. If it's Audi, and electrical,
good odds it's broken (my experience!). The thermoswitch is probably
fairly cheap. Also easy to test - just drop it in pan of water on
stove, and see what temp you have to heat the water to get the switch
to open...

   Also, once started, there seems to be something funny in the vacuum
   system which is affecting the idle speed.  When I step on the gas
   when idling out of gear (it's an auto), the revs rise and the vacuum
   gauge shows low vacuum (I presume econ gauges were fitted on US
   cars?).  If the vacuum drops to the point where the needle on the
   gauge rises to the top, when the pedal is released, the idle stays
   at around 1000rpm, and the gauge continues to show this reading. 
   After 5-8 secs (cold) or 15-20 secs (hot) the gauge returns to high
   vacuum and the idle speed drops back to around 800rpm.  At first I
   just thought the vac gauge was faulty, but then I noticed the idle
   varying.  There was no electronic things (like O2 sensor) fitted to
   Australian models to mess with the idle speed/mixture, nor is there
   a deceleration valve (correct name?).  Could this be a faulty aux 
   air bypass valve?

Not likely, as it's a pretty-static electrically-driven component. But
then again . . . but when you've eliminated everything else . . . (try
pinching off the air hose to/from the Aux Air Valve and see if your
problem goes away).

Sounds more like random vacuum/air leak -- cracked hose, gasket, etc.
Can be a real ***** to find!

Good luck.

					-RDH