RE: Quattro Coupe Questions

[steveb@falcon.kla.com (Steven Buchholz)]

> >3. Not starting when hot.
> >   My mechanic friend seams to think it is a booster relay problem
> >   due to the poor electrical system and by upgrading/replacing this
> >   relay you can fix the problem
> 
> This could be many things, the "hot start pulse relay" is missing, the fuel
> accumulator is not holding system pressure, the injectors are old/dirty
> and leak fuel when held at pressure, etc. Could be a combination
> of any number of things. Hard to point 1 item out as causing the
> hot start problems.
> 
If you mean that the starter won't even engage and spin when the engine is 
hot I think this is a very common problem.  AAMOF, my car is exhibiting 
this symptom at times.  There are many contributors to this one ... bad 
grounds and electrical connections, increased resistance in the start con-
tact on the ignition switch, weak battery.  IMHO two biggies are the starter 
itself and a missing heat shield.  On my car the starter was replaced by a 
previous owner, and the rebuilt was not the same external shape as the OEM 
... meaning that the heat shield was left off.  The thing sits right next 
to the exhaust manifold and turbo, so you know its gonna get hot.  I've got 
the heat shield for a 5k which will fit on the solenoid and should help.  
I'd recommend that you do all the little things I listed AND get a replace-
ment starter.

HTH!
Steve Buchholz
s_buchho@kla.com
San Jose, CA (USA)