driveaudi.colorado

Ok so I drive a 1989 Audi 200. The issue I am having is that the car will randomly stall...not safe! I have gas in it but when I go to start it again sometimes I need to let it sit then it will start again. Could the fuel pump be my issue?

Kneale Brownson

Sounds like engine timing and ignition sensors.

Shegs

yeah mine was having the same thing
The sensors are $60 a piece and they took about 3 hours to change, mainly because I had no idea what I was doing.

5000Q86

I agree with kneale, theres a sensor inside the distributor cap that tells the computer the cam position relative to the crankshaft. if you want to test it, you need to backprobe the 3 pin connector on the distributor. one of the wires should be power, one should have an "on/off" signal, and the third is a ground i beleive. this is much easier if you have access to an oscilloscope instead of a DMM because you can graphically see the signal. if not, the sensors arnt that expensive and come out with three little phillips head screws on the side of the dizzy case.

Kneale Brownson

I'd start by testing the connectors from the ignition and timing reference sensors. The three-pin connectors (OEMs are black and gray) mounted to the firewall at the back of the engine. Testing procedure is described in the Bentley.

pureroundcircle

If it stalls at idle I'd first be looking at the throttle position switch and the idle control circuit.

Kneale Brownson

Stalling while under way is symptomatic of the engine speed sensor, while hot nonstart is symptomatic of the ignition reference sensor. Both of these are heat sensitive (performance deteriorates when hot). These Audi engines require a good report from both the speed sensor, which counts the teeth on the flywheel, and the timing sensor, which counts a pin on the engine side of the flywheel. Engine will run once started if the timing sensor's signal falls off, but not if the speed sensor is failing. If the latter is bad, the tachometer needle will not move much when trying to restart--another symptom. A third test is to spritz the sensors with cold water and see if the engine will run again.