Intermittent power loss
12-20-2001, 04:42 PM
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Intermittent power loss
Hi,
We have a 1989 Audi 100 wagon. It has a 5 cylinder engine (2.3L, I think.) We are experiencing a problem where we will lose power and the engine will drop to about 1100 RPM and stay there. If we push on the throttle the car bucks. We must drift to the side of the road and wait. If we push on the accelerator pedal, the throttle operates, but the engine acts as if it is getting no additional fuel. Basically, it is as if the fuel system is stuck on idle. Eventually, the idle speed will drop to 850 or so and we are good to go again. This power loss is totally intermittent. It might happen again instantly or in a few minutes or not at all for the rest of the trip. We live in a remote area with narrow roads, sometimes no shoulders, and multi-hundred foot cliffs down to the ocean, so we are becoming nervous about driving this car. Last night it was misbehaving so badly that we just had it towed home.
We took it to a mechanic who specializes in German cars and he was stumped (after charging hundreds of dollars to replace a full throttle switch - though I have no idea what full throttle operation has to do with our problem - it happens at any throttle position.)
Any advice or assistence would be appreciated.
We have a 1989 Audi 100 wagon. It has a 5 cylinder engine (2.3L, I think.) We are experiencing a problem where we will lose power and the engine will drop to about 1100 RPM and stay there. If we push on the throttle the car bucks. We must drift to the side of the road and wait. If we push on the accelerator pedal, the throttle operates, but the engine acts as if it is getting no additional fuel. Basically, it is as if the fuel system is stuck on idle. Eventually, the idle speed will drop to 850 or so and we are good to go again. This power loss is totally intermittent. It might happen again instantly or in a few minutes or not at all for the rest of the trip. We live in a remote area with narrow roads, sometimes no shoulders, and multi-hundred foot cliffs down to the ocean, so we are becoming nervous about driving this car. Last night it was misbehaving so badly that we just had it towed home.
We took it to a mechanic who specializes in German cars and he was stumped (after charging hundreds of dollars to replace a full throttle switch - though I have no idea what full throttle operation has to do with our problem - it happens at any throttle position.)
Any advice or assistence would be appreciated.
12-21-2001, 08:46 AM
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Re: Smells like a 1. Fuel filter 2. Fuel Pump 3. Fuel Pump relay. Do 1 and 3 first cause they are ch
Hi,
Thanks for answering.
This is what we thought at first, too, but the mechanics have gone through the entire fuel system. New filter, checked the fuel, fuel tank, lines, and pump. I don't know about the relay, but considering that they went to the extent of taking the fuel pump apart to check for pieces of the tank lining (which, I understand, is another typical Audi problem) I'm sure they probably checked it.
If it is the relay, wouldn't it shut the fuel off entirely? The engine idles when it it acting up, but won't run above idle.
Thanks for answering.
This is what we thought at first, too, but the mechanics have gone through the entire fuel system. New filter, checked the fuel, fuel tank, lines, and pump. I don't know about the relay, but considering that they went to the extent of taking the fuel pump apart to check for pieces of the tank lining (which, I understand, is another typical Audi problem) I'm sure they probably checked it.
If it is the relay, wouldn't it shut the fuel off entirely? The engine idles when it it acting up, but won't run above idle.
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