Paul99SE

Observed this problem yesterday at about 4pm. Hadn't driven the car since the day before at 7pm. Car was difficult to start, when it did start, it cutoff dead 5 seconds later. I waited about 10 sec, restarted and the car ran fine for about 20 miles (and 1 warm restart after a round of mini golf). Then the car cutoff while driving, once briefly with a quick recovery without my intervention and then a second time a few seconds later which required my pulling off to the side of the road for restart (when you get the "press clutch pedal to start engine while moving down the highway at 65mph, it's not good!). Then the car drove fine for another 15 miles and another restart after 3 hours of rest. On the short 2 mile ride home, the car once again did the "double die" as it had earlier.

When I tried to start it this morning, it was once again difficult to start. I smelled a strong fuel odor outside the car (but not inside). No flui9ds were leaking. I was low on gas, so I went and filled up with 94 (normally I use 93), came back and (for giggles) removed the negative ground cable for 10 min. The problem hasn't repeated since, but I haven't driven it but 2 mi. yet.

Anyone else observe anything like this?

David

<p>David
Silver/Onyx-Silver
<a href="http://registry.audiworld.com/audi/registry/details.asp?car=3683"><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/dnrsmall.jpg"></a>
GIAC II & Race Tip chips

Paul99SE

I hate to bring a car with "intermittant" problems to the dealer without a procedure to reproduce the problem: Murphy's Law dictates that the problem will not manifest again until I drive it off their lot.

Rich Martin

FWIW, had similar problem when fuel pump fuse was acting funny on previous VW.