Start-up issues

[AudiEmpire]

Started the car up last night, temp was ~40deg, had not been driven in 48 hours. 2004 with 90K miles.

Symptoms -
Hesitation at start-up
Initial idle was ~500rpm for first 5 seconds
Very minor shaking
Ticking noise from engine bay
Squeal / Whine sound (fuel pump?) prior to start-up
NO check engine light


Does this sound like a clogged fuel filter, bad fuel pump, or something entirely different?
Thanks!

[gregory.fazekas]

Sounds like your fuel pump is on its way out, although I know these cars have timing issues. I would run a vag-com scan and see if any codes come up, then maybe start with a new fuel pump

[Dirtracer603]

FYI. A clogged fuel filter will first show symptoms at WOT and as it clogs more you will lose the ability to put a load on the engine.

[AudiEmpire]

I'm going to take the car out to test symptoms across the spectrum of rpm and load conditions. I'll report back with results.

Thanks!

[AudiEmpire]

Started up 100% normal today. Ran a few errands, started and stopped normally 3 times in a 90 minute round-trip. Normal behavior in all rpm ranges. Any ideas on what kind of issue could come and go like this?

[mistral cytz]

Started up 100% normal today. Ran a few errands, started and stopped normally 3 times in a 90 minute round-trip. Normal behavior in all rpm ranges. Any ideas on what kind of issue could come and go like this?

I owned a Saab that had intermittent cold starting issues that ended up being a bad check valve in the fuel pump so fuel would drain out of the lines and it would take 5-10 seconds of cranking to regain fuel pressure and start followed by a rough idle.

It could also just be something simple like bad gas or moisture in your fuel lines. Not sure how cold your temps have been this winter but leaving your car overnight repeatedly with less than half a tank of gas can cause ice crystals to form in the fuel system making the car difficult to start.

[AudiEmpire]

We have had some extreme temp fluctuations between a high of 65 and low of 18 in the 2-3 days prior to my issues, perhaps this was at least partly responsible. Thanks for your input!

[TheSchwa]

When was the last time you changed the spark plugs...?

[AudiEmpire]

Plugs were done at 77K in August of 2011 along with coil packs (under recall).