trackfactory

Hello all. First I want to say thanks a bunch for all the helpfull suggestions.

An update to my problem...unfortunately, since I don't have a VAG Com, I can't pull the codes. So I decided to have the car towed to the local Audi specalist shop in my area. But before I did that I wanted to check the fuel pump relay. I put a couple of bottles of fuel injector cleaner in the tank, but didn't get a chance to swap the relays before the tow truck came. But I managed to pull the relay when the car got to the repair shop. I swapped the fuel pump relay, with the load reduction relay (at least I think). The relays looked identicle.
Low and behold! The damn thing started!
It ran like crap, however and the CEL immediately started flashing, but it started non the less. I tried giving it some gas but it started to choke, and died. I swapped the rlays back to their original positions just to see what would happen and it didn't start.
I then swapped them back (out of original positions), and it made an attempt to turn over, but sputtered and died.
What does this mean??? Is the pump good or just on it's way out? could it be the relay?
When I informed the shop manager of what I found, he only said it definetly sounds like a fuel issue. I just don't want to be charged for a fuel pump when it could possibly be the relay, or a gas filter or some other less expensive problem.
Any other insight???

tozoM8

You can take it apart and clean the contacts.

rAudiA8

i think i have the same problem.. i fill up and as soon as my car reaches 1/4 tank it starts to act funny.. like the fuel guage drops from 1/4 tank to empty when i come to a stop... and then when i accelerate it goes back up to 1/4 tank. from my past research it seems like there is an issue with the fuel regulating from one side of the tank to the next... i still have not had mine fixed but the only thing i've been able to do to prevent running out of gas is to keep it filled over 1/2 tank.

trackfactory

There was about a half a tank of gas when the problem first started to occur.

Unfortunately the issue has gone from bad to worse. The repair shop has replaced the fuel pump to the tune of $900 plus. When I whent to pick up the car, it started and ran, but immediately choked and died as soon as put my foot on the gas. The repair shop claims they started the car and ran it for a bout an half an hour, then pulled it out into the yard, but never took it for a test drive.

trackfactory

Well, the saga contiues...

After having the repair shop replace the fule pump to the tune of $900 plus, I'm still without my car. Went to pick the car up and it started up right away, no problem. But soon after while ideling, started to run rough. I tried giving it some gas, but got the same problem I originally had, she choked and then eventually died. She started right back up, but I could not drive the car anywhere because everytime I give it gas in park, it choked and died everytime. If I put in drive, it died immediatley.
Was the car improperly diagnosed? Am I going to have to fight with the repair shop for a refund if it turns out to be something other than the fuel pump?

AudiChan

If not, stop waiting and start buying:
http://item.express.ebay.com/_Automotive-Tools__USB-KKL-Vag-Com-Cable-Interface-409-VW-Audi-VagCom-OBD2_W0QQitemZ370010027158QQihZ024QQadnZAutomotive Q20ToolsQQptdiZ2871QQcmdZExpressItem

I got mines off this "alpha-bid" seller off the "eBay express item" shipped really fast, got it within a week as he/she shipped from east coast.

You are going to need this sooner or later... A true specialist or hobbyist would have VAG-COM. I honest like it a lot and feel like I should have gotten one on ebay long time ago... I'm actually still being cheap and only downloaded the FREE version 409.11 from Ross-Tech, yet already got quite a handful of mods done already. And you don't have to let the mechanic keep trying/diagnosing for money.

My heart goes out to you when you didn't get your car back for the holiday! SAME AS ME during Thanksgiving. Mines was just the fuel pump (knock on the wood still)...

From what you describe as you swapped the fuel pump relay in and out, sounds like the new one was working but was later tripped/jumped by the bad fuel pump (someone here actually experienced that the relay would go bad quickly if the fuel pump is bad)... so that's why it quited working after you put it back on later.

Now that you have a functional new fuel pump (granted they put in the fuel sending unit correctly, showing the appropriate level of fuel to you and your car!) but might still be stucked with the bad relay? That's just my guess if I read your post correctly. I have not had it run rough after replacing fuel pump on mines for 3+ weeks (again, knock on the wood still)...

I literally would be willing to ship my VAG-COM cable to you just to help you out if you need it;I'm in Durham NC. Please check with your mechanic first and be sure to print out a list of faulty code --> http://www.bentleypublishers.com/tech/audi/audi.dtc.table.htm <-- with you so you guys can start collaborating rather than guessing. Best wishes!

AudiChan

1) What spark plug did you replace with? My '97 runs great with Bosch Platinum +4 (model# 4457)


2) Any chance you know if your fuel filter is dirty? You can easily get that for under $30. In fact, I bought an extra one (German OEM brand: MANN) if you need it quick.


FYI: In September, I had my fuel filter changed, my MPG jumped from 15-ish to like a consistent 23-24 mix driving. Then, I had my fuel pump failure couple months afterward. Car working well after $1100 worth of spark plug and fuel pump change... It is now 19 MPG when my wife started driving locally everyday, and "we" drive as a family on weekends (more like 90% local and 10% freeway).

trackfactory

121K miles. I changed the spark plugs early summer of this year (07) with Bosch Platinum +4. Repair shop recommended and gave me an inflated estimate so did the job myself. Still kept giving random missing codes and the repair shop said he wouldn't recommend Bosch.

I thought about the fuel filter, and asked the repair shop if they checked it, and they said no. (Wouldn't that be something you would check before swapping out a fuel pump??)

trackfactory

They did. Didn't tell me what eactly the codes were. Only said that there were a bunch of codes including the random missing codes.

I was holding off on buying a VAG-COM, didn't know I could buy just the cable and connect it directly to my laptop. Don't I need specific software??

AudiChan

...Sound like they are trying to tell you your car has an intermittent "Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected" faulty code...

Regarding the VAG-COM software, if you buy the same cable I did, you can download the free version 409.1 off here (the right hand side one "TWIN-USB Interface"):
<a href="http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/download/archives.html">http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/download/archives.html</a>

That's good enough to diagnose/solve you problem. And if you need more advanced features later on, just buy the full version.

I guess you have at least 2 out of the following 3 faults and maybe more... quoting from a sample on <a href="http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/tour/dtc-printout.html">http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/tour/dtc-printout.html</a>


008851 - Fuel Pressure Regulator Valve (N276): Mechanical Malfunction
P2293 - 002 - Lower Limit Exceeded - Intermittent - MIL ON
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 10100010
Fault Priority: 0
Fault Frequency: 8
Mileage: 3641 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2006.06.30
Time: 08:10:39

Freeze Frame:
RPM: 626 /min
Load: 44.7 %
Speed: 0.0 km/h
Temperature: 86.0°C
Temperature: 45.0°C
Absolute Pres.: 990.0 mbar
Voltage: 13.716 V

000768 - Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected
P0300 - 001 - Upper Limit Exceeded - MIL ON
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 11100001
Fault Priority: 0
Fault Frequency: 2
Mileage: 3641 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2006.06.30
Time: 08:10:41

Freeze Frame:
RPM: 713 /min
Load: 39.6 %
Speed: 2.0 km/h
Temperature: 82.0°C
Temperature: 49.0°C
Absolute Pres.: 990.0 mbar
Voltage: 13.462 V

000769 - Cylinder 1: Misfire Detected
P0301 - 001 - Upper Limit Exceeded - MIL ON
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 11100001
Fault Priority: 0
Fault Frequency: 2
Mileage: 3641 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2006.06.30
Time: 08:10:42

Freeze Frame:
RPM: 736 /min
Load: 40.8 %
Speed: 2.0 km/h
Temperature: 82.0°C
Temperature: 49.0°C
Absolute Pres.: 990.0 mbar
Voltage: 13.589 V