antlee928

Ok. So I go to start my S4 and she turns over ok but does not fire. In fact It almost catches then nothing. After several turns there is strong smell of gas from rear exhaust so I am guessing that fuel pump and associated items comprising fuel delivery are OK. The car rang fautlessly the weekend before last on a local Porsche Club morning run. Brought it home and parked it. I haven't started it since (not my daily driver). Last weekend I decided to install some brighter headlights globes. Discovered that my headlights were not working and traced fault to a poorly seated headlamp relay (XXIII-XXiV). Discovered that the one of the two sockets it plugs into was partially broken and pushed to rear of the cradle. So I removed the two cradle holding screws at the top and pulled the cradle forward so I could get my hand into the rear to hold the socket firm whilst I plugged the relay in. This worked and I now have lights. However I not that Relay XXV (LH-Jetronic) is immediately above the headlight relay. I am wondering when I have had my hand in behind relay/fuse cradle fixing the headlights relay issue that I may have disturbed some wiring associated with the LH Jetronic relay??? Outside of this I am at a loss since in the two years and almost 30,000km of driving she has been ultra reliable with no electrical or mechanical issues. I have tried to unseat the Relay XXV but unable to so have wiggled it around abit to make sure it is seated correctly.

Any suggestions on where to start??

Thanks in Advance

antlee928

BTW, reseated the LH and EZK ECU connectors nd LH ECU was replaced in 2006 so doubt that it will have failed so soon.

Cheers

Hilton

Tony, we need more info on the symptoms.

Presumably it keeps cranking over without catching?
With the ignition in the "on" position, and the bonnet up, is there any clicking from the injectors?
Have you tried jumping the fuel pump (pull the relay and use a short jump lead to energise the pump) and going to listen to see if the pump is working?
Is your in-tank fuel pump working? (remove a wire off the external pump, tape it up so it doesn't ground, and then jump the relay position to see if you can hear the in-tank pump whirring).
Is there spark?
Have you pulled the vacuum lines off the Fuel Pressure Regulator and dampeners to check for fuel leaking out the wrong port?

Its fairly likely you've jiggled something on the back of the electric panel, but its worth going through the other obvious possible causes before diving into that rats nest.

Leon Speed

If it almost catches it probably is just flooded. The battery needs to be full to get the car to start. I would check/charge the battery, then try to start with the gas pedal all the way on the floor. 10 seconds max starting, rest, try again.

antlee928

Hi Hilton and Aryan.Thnx for your advice. I have put the battery on charge although it did seem to be coping ok. On first ignition and each time after leaving it approximately 15 ins or so it would almost catch/fire up on the first attempt and then just turn over. Strong smell of fuel fro the exhaust. Good suggestions Hilton and also ones that I had contemplated but going for the easy fix first and by logical deduction thinking I may have disturbed something i the fuse/relay wiring loom. Anyway have had battery on charge overnight and will attempt a start with WOT this morning. If no go then back to some of the Hilton basics.

Cheers