I have just been given an 86 Audi 5 cyl. It gets fuel to the distributor but only trickles out the injector lines. How do I determine if the distributor is bad or if there is something such as electrical or vacuum causing the distributor to malfunction? Ive never opened the hood on an Audi til now so Id really appreciate some help from you guys. The previous owner said she was driving along and the car started losing power down to where she was holding the accelerator to the floor to go 40 mph. I can start the car but I cant touch the throttle or it stalls. Thanks in advance.

 

to start off change your fuel filter and see if that helps
but it sounds like your fuel pump gone.

 

The fuel pump is good. The filter is new and charged. There is 40 lbs of pressure at the distributor. Theres 40 lbs. coming out the line to cold start solenoid. Theres almost nothing coming out lines 1-5 to injectors. Theres two electrical connections on the disributor which Im not familiar with. Im guessing one is an anti dieseling solenoid which cuts off fuel when the motor is shutdown. I know the problem obviously lies in the distributor since fuel goes in and doesnt come out. What I really need to know is what the 2 electrical connections are and their function. Also if anything else electronic can cause the disributor to malfunction. A distributor is 2 expensive to buy if not needed and although Im not familiar with Audis or VWs I can see that the chances of the disributor itself being the culprit is slim to none. An 86 5000 and a fuel distributor are basically about the same price.

 

Whats a fuel distributor? Are you talking about a fuel rail that feeds all of the injectors? Ive never seen one that contained anything electrical.

If you intend to keep the car you best bet would be to buy a manual for it.