Need Help Diagnosing Problem Please

**breakking** · 02-19-2008, 06:45 AM

I have a 98 ws6 a4. A week ago I was driving around 33mph when car jerked back and forth a little, then my check gauges light came on, my gas pedal did NOT give my car gas, and my steering wheel got stiff as hell(car still on). All I could do is barely manage to pull over and turn off my car. I thought my car was done, but I waited 5 minutes, and my car started perfectly like nothing ever happened. Yesterday it happened again, this time I tried starting my car immediately after I pulled over and turned off my car, and it would just crank. I waited 5 minutes and again it started like nothing ever happened.
I first instinct is a bad fuel pump, because of the symptoms described. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Has 70000 miles.

**t-rock** · 02-19-2008, 06:51 AM

what about your security on your dash have noticed it on?

**t-rock** · 02-19-2008, 06:54 AM

have someone turn the key on while you listen to the fuel pump and change the fuel filter first.

**bamaz28** · 02-19-2008, 09:01 AM

tps sensor maybe

**0rion** · 02-19-2008, 09:45 AM

sounds like the car is dying and that's why you're losing power steering but you say once you got to the side of the road you shut the car off so it was still running? I'm not sure why you would lose power steering if the car is running, as long as the pump is turning you should have power steering.
Everything else you describe could possibly be the fuel pump although that's a guess. When it does it and you go to start the car do you hear the pump prime ( buzzing sound from the rear)? Might wanna invest in a $10 fuel pressure gauge to throw in the car and check the pressure at the rail the next time it happens.

**breakking** · 02-19-2008, 03:13 PM

Originally Posted by t-rock

what about your security on your dash have noticed it on?

security never came on

**breakking** · 02-19-2008, 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by t-rock

have someone turn the key on while you listen to the fuel pump and change the fuel filter first.

my filter and pump were changed last year cuz while my car was getting fixed, it died on my mechanic. I would think that the filter is still ok. I was leaning more towards the fuel pump because I usally always drive my car on a low tank. I read that its bad to do that because the gas helps keep the pump cool. Never thought about it until recently...

**breakking** · 02-19-2008, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by 0rion

sounds like the car is dying and that's why you're losing power steering but you say once you got to the side of the road you shut the car off so it was still running? I'm not sure why you would lose power steering if the car is running, as long as the pump is turning you should have power steering.
Everything else you describe could possibly be the fuel pump although that's a guess. When it does it and you go to start the car do you hear the pump prime ( buzzing sound from the rear)? Might wanna invest in a $10 fuel pressure gauge to throw in the car and check the pressure at the rail the next time it happens.

car was still running which is weird.. because i lost my power steering, i was thinking the fuel pump overheated and stopped working(resulting in my gas pedle not working). I waited 5 minutes, started the car and was perfect.

Has anyone experienced a bad fuel pump while driving?? Curious if similar symtoms

THANKS FOR ALL THE INPUT SO FAR EVERYONE !

**DeadLifter** · 02-19-2008, 09:23 PM

Mine went out in a 93 Z I used to have and it just died while going down the highway.

**z28punk** · 02-20-2008, 07:25 PM

pumps die all the time while driving at my dealer. do a draw test on the pump to find out if its bad. we get bad fuel pumps right out of the box from AC delco. u'll go to start the car after replacing the fuel pump, and wont start, do a draw test on the new pump and find out its junk. its very frustrating.