rodheld

Hi!

I have an audi a4 quattro 2001 5 speed manual. The last two months it has broken down 4 times. I will be driving along and it just stops like someone turned the gas off. Then it will not start for about a half an hour then starts and runs like nothing ever happened. It ran for 3-4 weeks then will have the same problem. I have put about 3-4K miles on it during that time, (nothing unusual).

The car will not start at all now.
I have had and engine light on for about a year that has been for my cam sensor which was replaced a couple days ago.

Since I have owned the car, for 5 yrs, the dash lights dim, the radio will change channels after I have turned the car off, I have replaced the battery 2 times, the alternator 7 mo ago, and always been hard to start ( pump the gas pedal and turn the key to get it started)

The car is getting gas and spark.

Intermitment A4 Quattro

turbo510

From your description it sounds like there is a electrical connection problem. Start with the main connections at the battery: Remove the short ground cable, and clean the terminal that attaches to the car's body, also steel wool the body where the cable goes, and reconnect it. Spray WD-40 or silicone spray to keep water away from that connection. At the positive battery cable, disconnect the smaller cable from the battery clamp (I hope the '01 has that) and clean that connection carefully. When you try to restart, do you have the dash lights on? By the way, pumping the gas pedal does nothing to help start the car, there's no accelerator pump like a carburetor has.

If your car is getting "gas and spark", it should just need compression to start.

rodheld

The battery cables are clean and the car has a new alternator. The car will run when I disconnect the battery so I think the battery being low sometimes and having the battery go bad is a symptom. (I think) The car is running for when it just dies.

turbo510

I don't understand that. Would you explain this some more?

rodheld

Once I get the car started I can disconnect the battery and the car stays running.

turbo510

It's generally not a good idea to disconnect the battery while running. Why would you do that in the first place?

rodheld

i troubleshoot my alternator trouble. If you disconnect the battery when it's running and shuts down it's your alternator.

turbo510

There's a better way. If you check the battery befor starting, and get say 12.5 volts, then start the engine, and get say 13.8 volts, then the alternator is working.

xsrfsno225x

you've had the car for 5 years and haven't considered using a vagcom?

jschick

I do know the 1.8t will not start if it has a week battery, even if it cranks!
I have seen several A4's that have had a week battery not start, for some reason the V6 seems to start with less juice then the 4cyl.
if you have fuel and spark and compression it will run!
so you need to confirm those items and a good battery