Help! A6 won't start :(
Discussion
Hi guys,
The car is a 2001 A6 avant 2.4l v6 (with the dreaded multitronic gearbox, tho I don't think that's the problem here....).
I went to start it the other morning and it caught and ran for a second or two, then stopped. Rare for this car, but not unheard of. So I switched off and tried again. Engine turned over fine, but would not catch. In fact, it turned over so well that to start with I thought the starter wasn't engaging and taht was the problem. Googling that, I found that a snapped timing belt can give the same syptoms, so I've had a peek behind the cover and it's fine; both the serpentine belt and the timing belt are turning with the starter. On further listening, it seems like the engine is trying to catch very briefly (tho my battery is starting to get a little low now...). I've plugged my OBD code reader in, and it reports nothing, no stored codes, no pending codes, no live codes (it did say my RPM was 54 when I was cranking it).
Any ideas? Otherwise I'll probably have to use my RAC Home Start tomorrow. I might go and see how accessible the spark plugs are in the meantime.
ETA: fuses look OK, can't get down to the plugs to pull, there's a slight smell of petrol after trying with the throttle flat to the floor so I guess petrol's getting through.
The car is a 2001 A6 avant 2.4l v6 (with the dreaded multitronic gearbox, tho I don't think that's the problem here....).
I went to start it the other morning and it caught and ran for a second or two, then stopped. Rare for this car, but not unheard of. So I switched off and tried again. Engine turned over fine, but would not catch. In fact, it turned over so well that to start with I thought the starter wasn't engaging and taht was the problem. Googling that, I found that a snapped timing belt can give the same syptoms, so I've had a peek behind the cover and it's fine; both the serpentine belt and the timing belt are turning with the starter. On further listening, it seems like the engine is trying to catch very briefly (tho my battery is starting to get a little low now...). I've plugged my OBD code reader in, and it reports nothing, no stored codes, no pending codes, no live codes (it did say my RPM was 54 when I was cranking it).
Any ideas? Otherwise I'll probably have to use my RAC Home Start tomorrow. I might go and see how accessible the spark plugs are in the meantime.
ETA: fuses look OK, can't get down to the plugs to pull, there's a slight smell of petrol after trying with the throttle flat to the floor so I guess petrol's getting through.
Edited by defblade on Tuesday 29th December 20:27
Edited by defblade on Thursday 31st December 12:48
Spinning over really fast, but the timing belt is deffinatly ok? Engines flooded.
Sometimes caused by faulty temp sensor, but usually by running the engine for a breif period on teh cold start cycle and turning it off again, like taking it out of a garge and parking on a drive for example.
Removed + clean spark plugs, a tiny amount of engine oil down the bores can help also. Then retry with full throtle.
If it contunues to run for a second and then stop, every time you try to start it, its an immobiliser issue, can be simple as a fuse, key or reader coil of even the £500 dash pack, but run for sec and stop is your VAG car saying, I didnt read the key your going nowhere.
Sometimes caused by faulty temp sensor, but usually by running the engine for a breif period on teh cold start cycle and turning it off again, like taking it out of a garge and parking on a drive for example.
Removed + clean spark plugs, a tiny amount of engine oil down the bores can help also. Then retry with full throtle.
If it contunues to run for a second and then stop, every time you try to start it, its an immobiliser issue, can be simple as a fuse, key or reader coil of even the £500 dash pack, but run for sec and stop is your VAG car saying, I didnt read the key your going nowhere.
Thanks Tame Tech, the RAC man came to same conclusion - flooded.
As I never touched the throttle the first time, that hadn't even occured to me! Also the amount of turning over it's been doing. But pulling the plugs (well, one bank anyway) and drying them with a blow torch followed by a bit of playing with the fuel pump fuse sorted it all out
He also left me with the correct plug socket+extension bar to reach them if there's a next time, so he left with a bottle of something festive
As I never touched the throttle the first time, that hadn't even occured to me! Also the amount of turning over it's been doing. But pulling the plugs (well, one bank anyway) and drying them with a blow torch followed by a bit of playing with the fuel pump fuse sorted it all out
He also left me with the correct plug socket+extension bar to reach them if there's a next time, so he left with a bottle of something festive
Same thing happened on my A8 recently.
Fuel pump just gave up. Well know problem on D2 A8's!
That initial fire then just stops is the give away, BUT check the fuse first!
Cranking mine I could not smell any fuel from exhaust, which you should if it's flooded is another indicator. So glad it was not the fuel injection system!!
Not sure if yours is the same, but mine is inside the tank and Audi wanted a lot of Beer Tokens for one and 3 weeks to get it from Germany.
EBAY £95+5 delivered in 2 day and my local garage towed her in and fitted it for £180.
On a D2 A8 it's all done from inside the boot!
Fuel pump just gave up. Well know problem on D2 A8's!
That initial fire then just stops is the give away, BUT check the fuse first!
Cranking mine I could not smell any fuel from exhaust, which you should if it's flooded is another indicator. So glad it was not the fuel injection system!!
Not sure if yours is the same, but mine is inside the tank and Audi wanted a lot of Beer Tokens for one and 3 weeks to get it from Germany.
EBAY £95+5 delivered in 2 day and my local garage towed her in and fitted it for £180.
On a D2 A8 it's all done from inside the boot!
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