martinlatimer

so i got that blasted hose and installed. i tightened some other loose hoses and fired it up today. drove it to vote and into town no problems... went to work, let the car sit for about 3 hours, would not start. let the car sit for another 2 hours jumped it and it started and ran. (still hesitates between 2 & 3k ) let sit for another 2 hours, hard to start finally got it after about 20 min. drove home .

problems:

1. car has hard time starting. it will make like it's going to run but wont start
2. car has little power between 2 and 3k RPM.

could the thermostat be an issue? it works intermittently.

other hotspots for vacuum leaks? know any?

any help would be heroically appreciated (it's about to get cold in MN and i would like to have this car in fine shape before snow falls )

thanks much - martin

Kneale Brownson

Plugs, wires, distributor cap, rotor???? Fuel pump/relay??? If you have spark and fuel, it should start. If you have other issues, would run bad.

martinlatimer

1. is there a secondary fuel filter( i'm assuming there is) where is it ? i've cleaned the one under the hood

2. is it true that he injectors can foul easily ?

3.could my timing be too far advanced / retarded? the previous owner was a tinkerer and may have adjusted it


what's most perplexing is that i blew out the fuel filter and turned the engine over to see if the fuel pump was working and it was, gas shot out and it was fine not cruddy or dirty at all. the spark side of the equation is a dead end too as most of the parts are new...

thanks again -martin

Randolph

I would pull the codes first. Also you may want to study SJM's site. Excellent info. Link provided.

Randolph
87 5KCSTQ
93 928GTS<ul><li><a href="http://www.sjmautotechnik.com/">http://www.sjmautotechnik.com/</a</li></ul>

Kneale Brownson

There is no secondary fuel filter.

When you checked the condition of the fuel filter, was there residual pressure in the system when you first loosened a connection to the filter? Did fuel spray or run out of that connection? How long had it been since you cranked the engine before you loosened that connection?

You could have a problem with the fuel pressure regulator at the pump, with the pump itself starting to fail, with the fuel pump relay starting to fail or with a bad fuel pressure accumulator.

<img src="http://www.vagcat.com/epc/etka/B088/024100.png">

In the pix, #12 is your filter, #11 is the fuel pressure accumulator, #34 is the pressure regulator unless the pump has been replaced and now has one with an internal regulator.

Fuel injectors can become dirty from accumulated crud in the system. They spray through tiny holes under high pressure. Usually not plugged, but they can have reduced performance. However, that would make for consistent poor running more than starting problems.