Hi folks I'm a new member so bear with me please. I have a 2001 A4 1.6E petrol FWD. My problem is this. When I try to start the car,the fuel pump relay starts clicking and the car won't start. The pump and relay are fine. The car will start when towed but when I switch it off, it won't start again and relay starts clicking again. Here's the best bit. When I move the car in neutral (manual transmission) engine not turning, the clicking stops but the car still won't start. Would this have anything to do with ABS or speed sensors on the gearbox. Also,the EPC and check engine lights are on. Please help, this is really getting on my nerves. 3 mechanics baffled by this. Thanks,jbuzz.

 

Welcome to AF, I read your whole post in an Irish accent.

Are you sure the relay is good? How have you tested it or have you swapped in a new relay?

I recently had very similar problems. A clicking relay that caused the engine to shut down. The car would run for a few minutes and then shut off. It turned out to be a bad ECU. Swapping in a new computer alleviated the problem and the car has been running fine since.

Any chance you can borrow an ECU from another car to try that?

You should also scan for codes to see what the computer is saying. An eBay vag com cable and VCDS Lite is all you need for that, or any mechanic should be able to scan for codes.

 

Thanks for getting back to me Lukas. I swapped the relay so it looks like the ECU. I was hoping it wouldn't be that because parts in this country are very expensive. Thanks a lot, I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks again,Johnny.

 

What's the part number on the ECU?

 

I'm away from the car at the moment. I'll let you know ASAP. Thanks.

 

Hi Johnny, I'm in Ireland too and I'd a problem a few years ago where the ECU went in my Laguna and I was able to pick up one from the same model in a breakers for €120 so you could try them? Though with the B5 being an older model you may have some fun in finding one!

 

Hey Lukas, Johnny here in Ireland. Sorry for not getting back to you sooner.
I sorted the car after a lot of part swapping. It turned out to be a separate relay (No 30) housed in the same box as the ECU.Found it was faulty by accident.Hard to explain but the car runs like a dream now. Thanks for the help and again,I apologize for not getting back to you.Thanks again,regards Johnny.

 

No problem, glad you got it working.

 

Hello Renofan,thanks for the interest.I got it sorted. It was a faulty relay that was miles away from the one that was clicking. Ghost in the machine. Thanks, Johnny.