V8Q flywheels & hydrolock

[cobram@Channel1.Com (COBRAM)]

Haudi V8Q'ers:

What seemed like a straight forward job on a 1990 V8Q
at a friends garage has become of interest.  Car
was in obvious need of a starter, upon closer inspection
we noticed that several teeth were missing from the
flywheel too.

Seven hours later everthing was out. A new $400 flywheel
and 6 more hours and everything was back in and running
like new.  Car starts on half a crank and roars to
life.  Owner calls next day, coming down to pick up
the car.  My friend goes out to start the car and
zzzzzzzzpttttt, the spine tingling sound of several
teeth and a bendix going south.  #$%@##@!

Got on the horn to several dealers, this isn't THAT
an uncommon occurence on V8 Quattros.  Pass & Weis
(dealer) has had 2 V8Q's, IRA has had one, and the
"V8 guy" at Clair says he's seen three with the
SAME problem. It's caused by fuel getting dumped
in the engine, the result is a hydrolock situation
that sends flywheel and bendix teeth flying when
starting the car.

Only took 3 hours to get everything out the second
time around, car is up on lift waiting for new
flywheel on Monday.  Once it's all back together
will start in trying to figure out the cause of
the problem. These cars are really put together
nicely, I'd venture to say a work of engineering
art, expecially when you see the actual size of
that tranny and case.

Pass & Weis mechanic says that their hydrolocking
was caused by the ECU dumping fuel into the engine.
Only thing in common amoung those who have
experienced this problem is that all the cars in
question were sitting for long periods of time
before the hydolocking problem manifested itself.

The car should be back together by Tuesday, and
as soon as the culprit is found I'll post to the
list.  I've been on the list for several years,
and always ask many questions of those with first
hand knowledge of V8Q's, and this is the first
I've ever heard of this.

BCNU,

Cobram@Channel1.Com

... Bureaucracy: That place always in need of a laxative.
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