Ok here is the situation, The car has been sitting for about 3 weeks, while I was away and just did complete brake job. Before this sometimes the car would take longer to start, but it never would not start. I try to start it and it is just not starting. It turns over for a second then dies, and sometimes it will just crank and not turn over. It is an 03 with original battery, but I tested battery and it is ok, I tried charging it, jumping it, I checked all the relays+fuses, fuel pump, it is getting spark, and fuel, I am running out of things to check? Any help would be great thanks!

 

bump anyone, could this be related to the stumbling problem for sitting for 3 weeks? But it is 9 0 clock now and the car still wont start, I put alot more fuel in to it and it just cranks and wont turn over, and when it does it stumlbes out immediately, anyone?

 

Anyone close to you with an OBD scanner? First step is to pull codes and see if there is anything there. Compression check, spark, coil pack, and fuel would be the next things on my list.

 

One of two problems I can think of: [1] the battery is drained even though the tester says it's ok. check your battery connections, gould have a bad connection. [2] The 10mm screw on the fusebox under the hood on the right side of the engine compartment, next to the battery on a non s, or next to the airbox compartment on a S. check this screw. near the brake master cylinder, but located under the cover for the fuses. make sure that is TIGHT. Otherwise AZMCS has a good idea about the scanner, or bring it to the dealer [ouch...]

 

It has compression, fuel pressure, spark, and vacuum, i am really at a loss here, thanks guys for the posts.

 

OBD scan. Look for any obvious codes. If still no help, time to bite the bullet and head to the shop or dealer. Anyone close to you a VW-nut? The VAGCOM will work as a basic OBD scanner.....Good Luck

 

Where you located? If your in IL, I'm usually all over the state, and might be in your area. I've got a scanner and laptop that can usually figure out these pesky rodants.... Let me know.

 

+ 1 man . you may read volts but your amps may be done . take the battery to sears and have it checked . then buy a new one . i've seen no end of weird crap on here related to these batteries .

 

I finally figured it out, the fuel had a large percentage of ethanol in it, and made the fuel system perform so badly it clogged the injectors. Even though the injectors were pulsing on the o scope they werent actually sending fuel. So I cleaned out the systme, refueled it, and it started up like a champ. Its funny while I was working at my dealership there was a TSB posted about gas stations adding ethanol to 93 octane and clogging fuel systems on higher end cars.

 

All gas has at most 10% ethanol in it now. You must have gotten unlucky somehow.

 

well ethanol does grab and collect water molecules so when the car sat you ended up with a big glob of water and ethanol all balled up at the bottom . and when you went to start it , you sucked it all in . this is awsome . sorry ; that meant as a learning thing it's awsome. thx for the post . so dry gas to all if it's gonna sit eh?

 

Has anyone found that dry gas helps in this situation? A similar thing seems to be happening in my R56.