do fuel pumps ever fail.....

[Alan Cordeiro <alan.cordeiro@mts.com>]

Patient:  '87.5 Coupe GT 2.3l.

How many miles ?? I spoke to a Bosch sales engineer. The fuel pump in
our typical Audis is rated for 6000 hours. The reason it's not in miles is
that the fuel pump runs just as hard idling in the driveway as on the freeway
at "typical freeway speeds".  Based on driving style, 120-150k miles.
( mine failed at 160k..)

Symptoms:  Fuel pump runs, but no fuel actually making it to the fuel
distributor.  I disconnected the supply and return lines near the fuel
distributor.  Jumped fuel pump relay, heard it run, no flow. (Full tank of
gas..) Unfortunately, I didn't have a 19mm wrench with me, so I couldn't
disconnect the line at the pump to check the main fuel filter.  My plan is to
open the line at the inlet to the main fuel filter to see if it is plugged,
then to check the pre-filter (behind gas tank?).  Do fuel pumps ever fail, but
continue to run? BTW, there was no warning.  The car simply failed to start.  

NO WARNING at all ???? just died ??, Hmmm sounds familiar....

Any BTDTs?   

$160, plus two to three hours, and very cold arms from your full fuel tank.
The limited access from the top opening mandates two modes of
operation. 1) Peek in with flashlight. 2) insert full arm into tank and work
with "grope" mode from memory.

Look carefully at Bentley, get VERY familiar with how the pump is
mounted inside the tank. And remember how the hoses ran inside
the tank between the top and the pump before you remove it from
its mounting.

Alan