My car won't start :(

[C4R 100N]

Thanks MikkiJayne.

That is the pump that I have in my cart on the FCPEuro website. VDO. Cheapest that I could find it listed for is USD $145.49, and I have bought from them before.

Good chance to buy a couple of oil fiters, air filters and perhaps the rubber seal for the fuel pump VAG-1J0919133A . <-- Is that worth getting? I already have a fuel filter kicking around I think. Bought a spare for my C4 A6 but I think it might fit the S8. Have to check the part number. Bosch iirc.

If I push the car, am I right in thinking that I won't be able to steer it very well and that the brakes won't work? It is a slight downward journey to the driveway then a sharp right and then a bit of an uphill push to the carport. How many 'friends' do you reckon it will take? Thanks for the suggestion by the way.

[steamship]

Originally Posted by C4R 100N

If I push the car, am I right in thinking that I won't be able to steer it very well and that the brakes won't work? It is a slight downward journey to the driveway then a sharp right and then a bit of an uphill push to the carport. How many 'friends' do you reckon it will take? Thanks for the suggestion by the way.

Not sure about access around your carport, but it might be safer to tow it with a solid bar, as trying to stop a two ton car going downhill that has no brakes or steering may lose you a friend or two.

[MikkiJayne]

Brakes will work to hold / stop it in this kind of scenario. They'll just need more force on the pedal than normal. Ditto steering - it will be very heavy, but you can heave some lock on before pushing.

If its going up a slope then I would say at least four mates to push, and one to throw a brick under a wheel if they run out of steam! The other option is a ratchet strap tied to something solid to winch it up the driveway.

Get the tinnies in

[C4R 100N]

Originally Posted by MikkiJayne

Brakes will work to hold / stop it in this kind of scenario. They'll just need more force on the pedal than normal. Ditto steering - it will be very heavy, but you can heave some lock on before pushing.

If its going up a slope then I would say at least four mates to push, and one to throw a brick under a wheel if they run out of steam! The other option is a ratchet strap tied to something solid to winch it up the driveway.

Get the tinnies in

Thanks! Will do that!

I took my A6 Avant for a dry run into the drive tonight from a standing start parked next to the S8. It made it into the drive and most of the way up the drive under it's own inertia! I am going to have another go tomorrow with the A6 not started but ignition on and see if I can achieve similar results. I wonder if the S8 will perform similarly. I am a bit worried because of the reduced clearance under the car.

[MikkiJayne]

The gasket set for the pump seems to be very dependent on your local fuel quality. The Americans consider the tank seal essential, and seem to have lots of problems with the seals in the pump failing, but they have been absolutely fine in every UK car I've worked on. I've not had to replace the main tank seal either. It may be to do with the amount of ethanol in the fuel? I believe America has had ethanol in standard fuel for longer than we have.

One thing to mention - make sure you get two new banjo washers for the outlet on the pump (N0138128, 12x15.5x1.5) as they don't like being re-used and don't come with the pump. Ditto the filter - 2x N0138149 14x18x1.5 and 2 more N0138128.

[C4R 100N]

Originally Posted by MikkiJayne

The gasket set for the pump seems to be very dependent on your local fuel quality. The Americans consider the tank seal essential, and seem to have lots of problems with the seals in the pump failing, but they have been absolutely fine in every UK car I've worked on. I've not had to replace the main tank seal either. It may be to do with the amount of ethanol in the fuel? I believe America has had ethanol in standard fuel for longer than we have.

One thing to mention - make sure you get two new banjo washers for the outlet on the pump (N0138128, 12x15.5x1.5) as they don't like being re-used and don't come with the pump. Ditto the filter - 2x N0138149 14x18x1.5 and 2 more N0138128.

Oh thank you very much indeed for that information. I am *guessing* that the previous owner only used RON 98 fuel (as have I) as he is so filthy rich, and would ONLY replace parts with genuine Audi ones. I might ask him though.

I hope that I already have a supply of the crush washers and will check against the ones that I take out, but thank you very much for posting their specifications! I take it that you have supplied dimensions in millimeters which I will compare to my stock. Thanks MikkiJayne!

[27litres]

Hi Paul,

Sorry I'm late to this discussion!

You can test the pump relatively easily.

Bentley describes a procedure to test it:
It says that fuel volume is measured at the fuel return hose under the bonnet...remove fuel pump fuse (#1 on row #4), ignition off, jump 12v to the lower socket of the empty fuse receptacle. You should get minimum of 350ml of fuel in 15 secs...anything above that, volume is good.

Ok - first of all, the fuel return hose - there are 3 separate hoses at a junction near the right hand (drivers side) shock tower (you'll need to remove the solid plastic inlet pipe to view them).
The hose you want is the tank return hose after the down stream side of the fuel pressure regulator. This hose is not under pressure and is safe to separate. Using this hose means you measure volume that the pump pushes under rail pressure (4 bar ~ 60psi) through the fuel pressure regulator. The area where the three hoses are all together should have a series of joiners for each hose with crimp joiners holding them in place. I cut through one of these crimps, separated the hose and used a 1 foot length of whatever hose I found in the garage (vacuum probably) and fed from the fuel rail side into a margarine container (600ml coke bottle or similar will do too, it won't be in it for long).

Next, you can do as Bentley suggests and hotwire the fuel pump fuse.
Alternatively, you can do what I did and hotwire the pump directly from the battery with a toggle switch, as it's all in the boot - remove boot carpet, open the pump inspection hatch, unplug pump/fuel sender plug. The pump power is the heavier gauge wires.
Power directly to pump, earth via a toggle switch - it's all spade connectors, so easy peasy with a crimp set!

With everything in place (you'll be in the boot, so wedge the margarine pot/coke bottle somewhere), flick the toggle switch and count 1001-1015!
If it works and is able to push 350ml or more past the fuel pressure regulator, the pump is fine.

[C4R 100N]

Originally Posted by steamship

Not sure about access around your carport, but it might be safer to tow it with a solid bar, as trying to stop a two ton car going downhill that has no brakes or steering may lose you a friend or two.

Sadly, I can't tow it.

[johnny_quattro]

Originally Posted by C4R 100N

...perhaps the rubber seal for the fuel pump VAG-1J0919133A . <-- Is that worth getting?

The fuel pump was replaced when mine went bang last year but the seals were not. End result was as soon as I filled the tank up, a fair amount of fuel was dripping out from underneath the car. Looking in the boot under the access hatch, you could see petrol on top of the 'fuel delivery unit', along with the usual heady smell of Super Unleaded. Booked in at the garage and a new seal kit was fitted. The seal kit wasn't cheap.

[C4R 100N]

Originally Posted by johnny_quattro

The fuel pump was replaced when mine went bang last year but the seals were not. End result was as soon as I filled the tank up, a fair amount of fuel was dripping out from underneath the car. Looking in the boot under the access hatch, you could see petrol on top of the 'fuel delivery unit', along with the usual heady smell of Super Unleaded. Booked in at the garage and a new seal kit was fitted. The seal kit wasn't cheap.

I have seen that gasket set. I am extremely reluctant to buy it at $200.00 US That is $50 USD more than the pump!

I have ordered the pump, filter and the large gasket that I linked to earlier. I am going to cross my fingers that I can get the other o-rings locally and that the weird hexagon shaped gasket is in good shape...anyone else want to chime in with their experience with this gasket kit? 0_O