My car won't start :(

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by C4R 100N

The petrol tank is full minus 60km.

So extremely unlikely it's the seating problem.
(Unless that 60km involved the most aggressive driving imaginable! )

[C4R 100N]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

So extremely unlikely it's the seating problem.
(Unless that 60km involved the most aggressive driving imaginable! )

Thanks for discounting the seating problem for me.

I promise that I was only driving aggressively just the once up a lovely twisty hill for no more than 30 seconds! Otherwise, sedate city driving in traffic I am afraid.

[moltuae]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

So extremely unlikely it's the seating problem.
(Unless that 60km involved the most aggressive driving imaginable! )

Ah, yes, I missed that bit.

I don't know, I'm sure I could use up half a tank in 60km if I tried

[johnny_quattro]

Just to add some background info:

Mine was a combination of two isssues, namely fuel pump failure and then the subsequent problem of 'running out of fuel' when the gauge shows a quarter full. Once the fuel pump was replaced, and having effectively run out of petrol, the car showed signs of attempting to start on a couple of occasions and then pretty much nothing else. Strong cranking from the battery/starter motor. Low-loaded back to the garage to check (I was convinced there was fuel in there) and then discovered thanks to this forum about the fuel tank issue where part of the system to maintain equal levels on both sides of the fuel tank isn't working properly in my case. MJ seems to think it's one of the fuel return pipes possibly being blocked.

When my fuel pump borked, there were no prior warning signs apart from the car not moving lol, just a couple of spurts forward before the car stalled in the middle of a nicely-painted diagonal striped box junction.

Good luck with your investigations. It's probably worth updating your profile/signature to reflect where you are geographically, as someone on the forum may be able to assist with a quick VAGCOM or OBDEleven unit.

[C4R 100N]

Originally Posted by johnny_quattro

It's probably worth updating your profile/signature to reflect where you are geographically, as someone on the forum may be able to assist with a quick VAGCOM or OBDEleven unit.

Done! Thanks for the tip

Marty! You visiting Newcastle, NSW anytime soon? If so, bring your Vag Com cable and working laptop please!

[Architex_mA8tey]

Also worth considering crankshaft position sensor, which recently went on mine. We thought it was fuel pump and got it recovered, changed the fuel pump, seemed to fix it and then it went wrong again and did the same thing, but that pulled a code which gave it away so do scan the car before you try anything else!

[C4R 100N]

Originally Posted by Architex_mA8tey

Also worth considering crankshaft position sensor, which recently went on mine. We thought it was fuel pump and got it recovered, changed the fuel pump, seemed to fix it and then it went wrong again and did the same thing, but that pulled a code which gave it away so do scan the car before you try anything else!

Thank you! I do intend to scan as soon as I am able. I posted a question in the Vag Com section and would appreciate any input on that if anyone has an idea. Thank you lovely people!

can I do this?

[C4R 100N]

Updating this thread to report some progress in my diagnostics of this starting problem.

Spraying starting fluid into the hard plastic black duct attached to the air intake allows the car to start and run briefly. It runs as long as I continue spraying the ether into the duct.

So that points to no fuel delivery. I cannot hear any noise from the fuel pump assembly when turning the key to accessories on, nor when cranking the engine. I am guessing then that either the fuel pump is gone or there is no power getting to the fuel pump.

Please advise how I can move forward from here.

Check fuse? (Where is it?)

Fuel pump relay? (Where is it? how could i test it?)

Bang on fuel tank from underneath with rubber mallet? (Don't bother?)

use multimeter on connections to fuel pump assembly to check for power? (Which wires/terminals? Are there only two?)



Something else? (Suggestions?)

I am not trying to be lazy here in asking for help from you good people, but I know someone here will have answers. I will try to find out answers to these questions but will take me some time.

Will a scan be likely to give any pointers at this stage?

Any help that you can afford me will, as always, be most gratefully received.

Thanks,

Paul