Fanaudical

I have a 2001 Avant with the 2.8L (it's the wife's daily driver).

It died on her in the driveway yesterday and won't start. Attempting to restart yields an intermittent "catch" where it will fire once or twice and then die.

VCDS reveals no codes. The only condition I'm aware of where it won't start without throwing a code is a bad crank position sensor. I swapped in a known good spare - still no start.

VCDS output tests run normal; injectors fire, fuel pump runs (although I haven't checked fuel pressure).

I pulled plugs, found nothing strange, replaced with new as I was going to eventually and had the old ones out. I verified I have spark on all cylinders when cranking.

Timing belt is in place and camshafts appear in time with crank.

What am I missing?

Thanks for the help.

Airbag

Cts
Fuel filter
Fuel pump

hwks1

Could be flooded. You could try holding the gas pedal to the floor while cranking 10-15 seconds.

SloopJohnB@mac.com

Can take as long as 30 seconds. If it doesn't start in 30 seconds, don't start it for 10-15 minutes to let the starter cool off. If you can't start it in 30 minutes, it's not flooded.

SloopJohnB@mac.com

And yes…it pays to check fuel pressure but it's not particularly easy on Audis compared to Ford or Chevy where there is often a tap in the fuel rail.

Airbag

i completely forgot about he flooding thing. A definite possibility . Didnt we have a lady come on just a little while ago where the car dies right after starting and it just wouldnt go .. flooded ..

then the next day it slowly coughed back to life .. pretty strange . my car has NEVER died right after starting it .. it usually sounds like a freakin rocket ship spooling up after i start it ..

having said that i wonder if i can get a deal on an SAI pump.

SloopJohnB@mac.com

Try rebuilding the SAI pump? Generally nothing wrong with them but bad bearing(s) and possibly brushes? Google/youtube or tech articles?

Fanaudical

CTS and IAT sensors seem good.

Throttle position seems way off and the thing won't run the adaptation routine. I'm warming the car up to see if that helps. I still need to check fuel delivery.

Fanaudical

I got the car warmed up and started, ran it up to temperature, cleared the DTC's, shut it off, and then ran the throttle adaptation. The thing runs nice and smooth now. I'll let it cool off and try again...