RE: Engine dies after a few

["George W. Selby, III" <IsuzuG@prodigy.net>]

My former 87 4000CS, which I purchased from the Kidney Foundation, had the 
exact same symptoms (fuel pump was even kinda noisy compared to my two 5 
cyl Audis.)  I test drove it and it ran fine.  Pull it off the trailer when 
I got home, and it dies 1 mile down the road.  Fortunately it is downhill 
both ways to my house on my street (except for a brief flat area on one 
side, and Audis are light.)  Runs 1 mile to 6 miles, dies, won't restart. 
 I'm sure that it was this problem that had caused it to be donated, as all 
the ignition and fuel components had been replaced, apparently to no avail. 
 After pushing the Audi down the street to my house 1 too many times, I 
thought to check for spark immediately after it quit.  Sure enough no spark 
at the plugs.  Pulled the coil wire, still no spark.  Checked coil 
resistances and they were OK.  Pulled the distributor and spun the shaft 
while still electrically connected, and no spark.  Guess what, bad 
distributor (specifically the connections to the Hall effect sensor were 
loosening during thermal expansion, causing a failure to contact the 
necessary parts after running a couple of minutes, or hitting a bump)  I 
went to the automotive recycling center (junkyard) up the street and got 
one out of a VW Golf.  Sold the car to a friend (he is still driving it) 
and used the money to buy my current 86 4000CSQ (HA HA, and the AC works on 
mine)

George Selby
78 F-150 400M, 4 on floor, 4x4
86 Audi 4000CS Quattro
IsuzuG@prodigy.net