According to Audi, my car should not always start
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 82
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According to Audi, my car should not always start
Took my car in for 30k mile service this week. I was having trouble starting the engine after a night in the garage (or even a day at work) when there was 2-3 gallons of gasoline in it, or less. I try to start it, it keeps turning but not starting the first time, but then I stop, let it sit a few seconds, try again and it always works.
Comes back the following day, service done. Service guy claims they pumped a bunch of gas out, let it sit a few hours, tried to start and -- lo and behold -- it won't start.
So they call the Audi technical hotline which tells them that *THIS IS NORMAL BEHAVIOR*.
Now, I might be relatively clueless about cars. But I've never had a vehicle that had issues starting. Especially when said vehicle costs $40k. Seems like according to Audi, I'm supposed to sit in the lot trying to get my car started, while other cars are happily driving away? Embarassing, to say the least.
Any advice? Similar stories?
Comes back the following day, service done. Service guy claims they pumped a bunch of gas out, let it sit a few hours, tried to start and -- lo and behold -- it won't start.
So they call the Audi technical hotline which tells them that *THIS IS NORMAL BEHAVIOR*.
Now, I might be relatively clueless about cars. But I've never had a vehicle that had issues starting. Especially when said vehicle costs $40k. Seems like according to Audi, I'm supposed to sit in the lot trying to get my car started, while other cars are happily driving away? Embarassing, to say the least.
Any advice? Similar stories?
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 5,959
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many many have this problem, as do i...
try the suggestion below...
I think some said it might be a fuel sending problem...but id rather live with it, rather than having some dumb tech touch my car
sad aint it?
I think some said it might be a fuel sending problem...but id rather live with it, rather than having some dumb tech touch my car
sad aint it?
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,204
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Thjat's the point...turn key until OK appears, then it is "OK" to start the car.
Someone posted that the fuel pump primes something to help the car start...I have no idea..I could be talking out my ***.
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,494
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Had a cold start problem on my a4... they finally replaced the ECU which fixed it.
...sometimes started first go, sometimes taking up to 3-4 tries before it would start. The problem didn't correlate to the amount of fuel for memory.
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New Member
Joined: May 2001
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Try a different type of gas.
My car had exactly the same problem. I switched from Citgo 93 Octane to SuperAmerica 92 octane and no problems since.
Search "Stall Problems" and the full story, and follow ups are there.
Search "Stall Problems" and the full story, and follow ups are there.
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AudiWorld Super User
Joined: May 2001
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From: Noblesville, Indiana
Wait for OK to DIS-appear . . .
I recall the post stating turn the key on . . . put your seatbelt on . . . then by that time the OK on the guage cluster has disappeared - then start the car. This "primes" the fuel sending unit (or something to that effect). I had first start of the day problems until I started heeding that advice. Now I've changed my ways!
