Re: Clutch take up, 90Q

[Alex Kowalski <akowalsk@shrike.depaul.edu>]

V. Jokic - Push wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> I am a new owner of a 88 90Q.  140k km, or 87k miles, unknown history. The
> problem I am currently trying to figger out is unusual clutch take up when I
> start the car in the 1-st gear.
> The clutch engages when the pedal about 3/5 of its way back from the floor
> to the rest position. At that moment, the engine RPM drops much more than it
> is normaly expected (if running at 1500, drops to 500), then it suddenly
> gets back to previous speed and the car starts with an unpleasant jerk.
> After that very short engine hesitation (o.5 sec) , everything is OK,
> shifting to higher gears is acceptable smooth. This means that I have to
> release the clutch very carefully any time I start the car. This make a
> quick start on a trafic light impossible, and any car with an automatic
> transmission is faster than my Audi first several meters ( or feet), but
> once I get my RPM back I am OK. Attempted to make a real quick start (high
> RPM, fast clutch release) but the same behaviour, car pulls, RPM drops and
> returns to high very fast, like 1 - 0 - 1. Could  you guys help me out and
> give me some idea what is happening.
> 
> Is there a problem with clutch, or a problem with engine transition speed
> (from idle to higher RPM) or I simply do not know how to drive a quattro?
> 
> Thank you.
> 
> Push
> 
> 
> 
> root

My '84 4KQ was briefly experiencing a similar problem before the 
electrical system developed a serious short last week.  I don't know 
whether the hiccup is related to what caused the current (no pun 
intended) problem, though. I am replacing my fuse relay panel and this 
may make both problems go away. Our cars are pretty different, but once I 
get my Q back together and running I intend to scope this 
hesitation problem out.  It feels like the fuel pump briefly hiccups when 
releasing the clutch in first gear, causing the engine to nearly stall, 
then it picks up almost instantaneously and gives no further trouble 
through the rest of the gears.  Maybe it's a loose/broken wire that is 
getting tugged by the driveline torque and then re-making. I'm thinking 
of wiring a small test bulb in parallel with the fuel pump and watching 
it while I drive to make sure it's not cutting out.  In any case, if I 
find anything I'll post it.

Best Wishes,
Alex Kowalski
'84 4KQ