Cranks, won't start
11-15-2010, 07:09 PM
#1
Audi Forum - Posts like an A3
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Ontario
Posts: 88
Cranks, won't start
2000 1.8TQ - suddenly the car won't start.
It's currently sitting at my mechanic's - we've checked fuel pump, coil packs, MAF ... any other suggestions? Sounds like it's not getting gas - it just won't catch. The engine is throwing no codes, and there have been no recent issues.
It's currently sitting at my mechanic's - we've checked fuel pump, coil packs, MAF ... any other suggestions? Sounds like it's not getting gas - it just won't catch. The engine is throwing no codes, and there have been no recent issues.
11-15-2010, 07:42 PM
#2
Audi Forum - Posts like a Q5
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Calgary
Posts: 531
Re: Cranks, won't start
Computer. Open the box put the mechanic inside the car so he can start cranking.
You need to stand by the computer and APPLY PRESSURE ON IT in the middle and on the sides and gently bend it in different directions untill you hear the hum of the secondary fuel pump.. It should start now.
The problem is with the air coming into it but not being able to escape, leaving condensation behind.
I drilled 2 holes in my left vent so now I do not have this problem as there is air flow around my ECU.
If you started it with the bent ECU remember how you bent it and put some rubber or twig underneath so it remains bent the same way. You can drive home but you need to replace the computer later. You can buy used one for $600.00.
If you want a new one the dealer goes like - give him the old one and this and that and than he says $$$$5000!
Applying pressure on ECU
You need to stand by the computer and APPLY PRESSURE ON IT in the middle and on the sides and gently bend it in different directions untill you hear the hum of the secondary fuel pump.. It should start now.
The problem is with the air coming into it but not being able to escape, leaving condensation behind.
I drilled 2 holes in my left vent so now I do not have this problem as there is air flow around my ECU.
If you started it with the bent ECU remember how you bent it and put some rubber or twig underneath so it remains bent the same way. You can drive home but you need to replace the computer later. You can buy used one for $600.00.
If you want a new one the dealer goes like - give him the old one and this and that and than he says $$$$5000!
Applying pressure on ECU
Last edited by adamstasiak; 11-15-2010 at 08:32 PM.
11-16-2010, 12:32 AM
#3
Audi Forum - Posts like an A4
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Canada
Posts: 180
Re: Cranks, won't start
if this is the case,^^^^^ then whats happened is over time the condensation has probably created bad soder points, or dried up soder points if you will.
By applying pressure to certain points on the ECU, what i believe your doing is making those bad soder points touch again making contact.
If your good with a sodering iron and have a keen eye for bad soder points, all you do is clean up the points and add a drop of soder.
Here is an example of a bad soder point.
See the three points in the middle.. Look at how it seems cracked near the circuit board. Thats a bad soder point!
Over time, many soder points go bad and I have fixed MANY expensive repairs with just a touch of a sodering iron saving hundreds if not thousands. However, I have been working with electronics for many years and I do not recommend messing with a ECU unless your comfortable.
By applying pressure to certain points on the ECU, what i believe your doing is making those bad soder points touch again making contact.
If your good with a sodering iron and have a keen eye for bad soder points, all you do is clean up the points and add a drop of soder.
Here is an example of a bad soder point.
See the three points in the middle.. Look at how it seems cracked near the circuit board. Thats a bad soder point!
Over time, many soder points go bad and I have fixed MANY expensive repairs with just a touch of a sodering iron saving hundreds if not thousands. However, I have been working with electronics for many years and I do not recommend messing with a ECU unless your comfortable.
Last edited by midrange; 11-16-2010 at 12:35 AM.
11-16-2010, 06:25 PM
#4
Audi Forum - Posts like an A3
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Ontario
Posts: 88
Re: Cranks, won't start
Turns out it was bad gas/water in the lines. The mechanic pulled the plugs, said they were wet and the gas smelled old. I'm going over receipts to figure out where I bought gas last. Anyway, change the plugs, add waterdispersement treatment ot the tank, and it fired up immediately with no ill effects.
Gotta love small town indies. Came and towed the car, spent about 2 hours going over it, and charged me $170 including the plugs and gas treatment. =)
Gotta love small town indies. Came and towed the car, spent about 2 hours going over it, and charged me $170 including the plugs and gas treatment. =)
11-16-2010, 07:00 PM
#5
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Calgary
Posts: 531
Re: Cranks, won't start
I am looking at these soder points like herd of cows at the following mathematical equation
2X + b = 8
I need to soder my ECU. Could you tell more how to recognize them?
2X + b = 8
I need to soder my ECU. Could you tell more how to recognize them?
11-16-2010, 07:12 PM
#6
Audi Forum - Posts like an A4
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Canada
Posts: 180
Re: Cranks, won't start
Sorry to hack this thread but seing the issue is resolved, i'll help adam.
OK, i circled the bad soder points with yellow.. The red ones are examples of good soder points.
Basically, any soder point that doesn't look clean, or has cracks.. or anything that doesn't look good, should be touched up.
Heres another example of a bad soder point.
Does that help?
An example of how this simple fix can cost a lot, my electronic components in my previous car started to all quit and flicker.. out of no where all my interiour electronics would just shut off.. SO I called the dealership to see what it would be.. They quoted me 2 hours just to try and see if they could find it, and if it was an issue with certain parts, it was going to cost in the 300-600 dollar range, and that was just an over the phone quote.. I decided to take out my body control module myself to see if this was the issue, and sure enough i found bad soder points.. Sodered them up which took fromstart to finish about 10 minutes, and i never had the issue again. It fixed all the problems i had. I should workfor the dealership and make good money! Knowledge is power. lol
OK, i circled the bad soder points with yellow.. The red ones are examples of good soder points.
Basically, any soder point that doesn't look clean, or has cracks.. or anything that doesn't look good, should be touched up.
Heres another example of a bad soder point.
Does that help?
An example of how this simple fix can cost a lot, my electronic components in my previous car started to all quit and flicker.. out of no where all my interiour electronics would just shut off.. SO I called the dealership to see what it would be.. They quoted me 2 hours just to try and see if they could find it, and if it was an issue with certain parts, it was going to cost in the 300-600 dollar range, and that was just an over the phone quote.. I decided to take out my body control module myself to see if this was the issue, and sure enough i found bad soder points.. Sodered them up which took fromstart to finish about 10 minutes, and i never had the issue again. It fixed all the problems i had. I should workfor the dealership and make good money! Knowledge is power. lol
Last edited by midrange; 11-16-2010 at 07:36 PM.
11-16-2010, 08:44 PM
#7
Audi Forum - Posts like a Q5
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Calgary
Posts: 531
Re: Cranks, won't start
GOT IT!
On the second and third picture two points are bad on each right?
Now I know what to do. I have a spare ECU just in case, but it needs some sodering and I had no idea where to start. The spare is an old type and the car is jerky on it but it runs like a rocket. The new one makes the car run smooth, but this is not what I want really.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
On the second and third picture two points are bad on each right?
Now I know what to do. I have a spare ECU just in case, but it needs some sodering and I had no idea where to start. The spare is an old type and the car is jerky on it but it runs like a rocket. The new one makes the car run smooth, but this is not what I want really.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
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