The last couple of months my car will sometimes take 2-3 seconds to start, stumble a bit and then go fine (It has always started instantly until now). This morning it started fine, I drove 13 miles and parked the car for 15 minutes. I got in it and it started and sputtered and stalled and died 1/2 mile away. I had the car towed home, tinkered with it a bit, It started and I drove it around the neighbourhood, it would run fine at slow rpm, but sputter mid /high rpm. I got ready for work (again). It started and I drove it out the driveway and am presently broke down in front of the house. Filter or pump have not been changed on this 168K car.

 

The above is a 1995 A4....ie an Opti and not a distributor.
Mine did similar and was the fuel pump. Pull the codes...should give you a hint....mine did. (only time ever been flat-bedded home)
Mine also had 166K when the fuel pump went.

Run the tests...fuel pressure, etc. (mine had 0 fuel pressure)

 

If the fuel filter has 168K on it I'm suprised the car runs at all. Change that first. Even if it doesn't fix it you need a new anyway.

 

I agree 100%.

Steve

 

200% Thats the first I`ve heard of that many miles on a fuel filter. That puppy should have plugged up many miles ago

 

Always start with the easy stuff. Don't assume the worst

 

I changed the filter last night. I could not even blow through the old one!

The car started and runs, I even drove it to work (72 miles one way). However, upon acceleration it stumbles. I nearly bailed out from driving it, but did so anyway. I was able to cruise at about 65 on the interstate, but if I sped up to pass a truck or such, it would stumble, so I slowed to 60 and cruised on into work in the slow lane. Could I have a weak/failing pump that could not pass fuel through the clogged filter, but now marginally works? I do not have a pressure gauge;however, when I use my fingernail to push in the valve a stream of fuel comes out with about the same pressure as water from a drinking fountian (no 'jet' just a stream). This is with the ignition turned off. Also, my gas guage has been messed up for about 2 months (it will not go below 1/3rd a tank) I have to fill the car up, reset the trip odo and fill again around 350 miles. And just today the AVG. MILEAGE calculator does not appear to work. It was saying (after a reset) that I was getting around 20 mpg; whereas on this route I get high 20's, nearly 30 mpg. The INT. MPG seems correct by displaying high 20's-low 30's. Could my problem be electrical? One other consideration....About a month ago I checked the codes and got the almost always present H32 (Usually due to broken emission elbows under the hood, which I'll mend/replace). However, yesterday I ran the codes and got H32, H34, H36 & H38. Other than the H32, I have never gotten the others. Could these be related to the stumble? I did not set off any codes on my 72 mile drive this morning.

Sorry for the wordiness, I'm just trying to look at everything before spending 100+ for a pump and it not be the culprit.

Thanks Always!

 

You need to either buy a fuel pressure guage.....about $35. or borrow one. I'm not familiar with those codes (mines an 87), but you need to know what they are. Also, your mileage dropping like that could be the result of bad/going bad 02 sensor(s).

 

Wow, I never got nearly 30mpg in my 87', could that be right?

 

Maybe check your spark plugs, could have a faulty one or two. Could not be running on all 8 cylinders, especially it happens when you give it gas while doing 65 and it stumbles.

 

 

Buy a FSM.

 

I've always gotten high 20's on the highway (i.e. interstate, cruise set at 70), but it'll drop below 20 if there is heavy stop and go city driving.


BTW, I changed the fuel pump strainer (it was clogged as well). It is still hard to start in the morning. If you WOT, it'll bog, sputter, catch, sputter, and then take off like it should. It acts like it has a Quadrajet on it that needs rebuilding! My next step is to drain the tank, maybe it's contaminated. Next I'll get a fuel pressure guage. I'm still tempted to go ahead and get a new pump.

 

Poopboys sells new "Carter" fuel pump with "pulsator bypass hose" for $70.....least expensive I've heard of.