Vandalism: I believe someone poured water/sugar down my gas tank

[Irfaudi]

the check engine light is on, solid not blinking. it drives fine on the freeway but occasionally shudders at a low gear and has stalled while idling, but that's rare. I took it to a local repair shop and they say the VAG reads that the car is not getting enough gas meaning it's either diluted or the sugar that's apparent on the edge of the gas flap has become crystalized in the filter.

Has anyone experienced this sort of problem before? or know what to do? please help, thanks.

[AudiA4Turbo22]

well the gas cap would have to be pried open if its locked. Also, some gas stations have mixed water with gas before. Also, u sure its sugar and not sediment?

[jackyaudi]

Sugar will f*** ur engine much quicker than u can think....

[fitch303]

I'd like to add to this subject. Why the hell did my 2002 jetta have a gas door lock but my more expensive upgrade Audi not?

[absolutegtr]

I'd like to add to this subject. Why the hell did my 2002 jetta have a gas door lock but my more expensive upgrade Audi not?

It should have one. mine sure does.

And i thought Mythbusters...busted the whole sugar and gas theory?

[Irfaudi]

i tasted the residue left over, i'm pretty damn sure it's sugar. should i take it to a mechanic to get repaired?

[absolutegtr]

i tasted the residue left over, i'm pretty damn sure it's sugar. should i take it to a mechanic to get repaired?

How much gas is in the tank currently? If its just a little, I would top it off to the top with some 93 octane and just drive it. It'll be fine

if not, disconnect the fuel line from the fuel rail and have your mechanic or whoever run the fuel pump and just pump it all out

[diagnosticator]

The gas door is locked when the car is locked.

[DUDEFROMRI]

I'd like to add to this subject. Why the hell did my 2002 jetta have a gas door lock but my more expensive upgrade Audi not?

Lock your doors, Then try to open your fuel door. It has a "rod" that engages when you lock the doors!

[Irfaudi]

i topped it off with the super at chevron and drove it around. it seemed fine and drove like it usually does but all of a sudden at around 80mph the car died on me on the freeway. i pulled over waited a few minutes started it up again and just made sure to keep my revs up high so it wouldn't suddenly die again before i got home. I called in an insurance claim, so i can take it to get it fixed. I just want to see if i can avoid that at all

[Irfaudi]

How much gas is in the tank currently? If its just a little, I would top it off to the top with some 93 octane and just drive it. It'll be fine

if not, disconnect the fuel line from the fuel rail and have your mechanic or whoever run the fuel pump and just pump it all out

i topped it off with the super at chevron and drove it around. it seemed fine and drove like it usually does but all of a sudden at around 80mph the car died on me on the freeway. i pulled over waited a few minutes started it up again and just made sure to keep my revs up high so it wouldn't suddenly die again before i got home. I called in an insurance claim, so i can take it to get it fixed. I just want to see if i can avoid that at all

Strangely enough, though I started my car today and it started fine. but i'm afraid to drive anywhere distant or on the freeway in case that happens again

[secnd2no1]

The gas door is locked when the car is locked.

Not my 02 audi a4 1.8T... my 3.0 had a Lock

[vintagespin]

it's not the fuel pump/ filter? evap system?

[A4 TSCHUSS]

Change your fuel filter, takes 10 minutes. If indeed someone did put sugar in your tank I cant imagine there is that much in there and sugar doesn't disolve in gas so if it made it past the filter on the fuel pump then it will be in the filter under the car which if in fact there were a ton of sugar in your tank and it got sucked up then it could just be clogging the fuel filter.

[diagnosticator]

Not my 02 audi a4 1.8T... my 3.0 had a Lock

If the gas door lock solenoid on your '02 does not lock the gas door when the car is locked, the solenoid is faulty.

[jackyaudi]

Well its the water that will mess up with engine a lot faster than sugar will. Sugar will clog the fuel filter, and if it makes it to the injectors, then it would clog them too. Clogged injectors means less fuel into the engine, so the car will run lean or wont have enough fuel to run. Now water will make the real damage, specially if its under high RPMs. A combination of both and its really not good.

[dougyfresh]

If the gas door lock solenoid on your '02 does not lock the gas door when the car is locked, the solenoid is faulty.

correct.

my 2002 1.8T locks the gas door when the main cabin doors are locked.

[A4 TSCHUSS]

Well its the water that will mess up with engine a lot faster than sugar will. Sugar will clog the fuel filter, and if it makes it to the injectors, then it would clog them too. Clogged injectors means less fuel into the engine, so the car will run lean or wont have enough fuel to run. Now water will make the real damage, specially if its under high RPMs. A combination of both and its really not good.

I highly doubt sugar would make it to the injectors. As for the water, he can put in some Heet (yellow bottle) from autoparts store which will spread the water out in the fuel and allow it to be burned unless of course there are gallons of water in the tank. As for water being sucked up, it will cause the fuel pressure to drop and car will lose power as the rpms ramp up causing them to stop and go back down or stay at a steady position.

I used to be an outboard boat mechanic for 2 years and dealt with water in fuel all the time and what I explained above is what happens. If there is a bunch of water then it would need to be pumped out but I would just put in 1 or 2 bottles of HEET and run a tank of fuel through the car and also change the fuel filter.

[secnd2no1]

If the gas door lock solenoid on your '02 does not lock the gas door when the car is locked, the solenoid is faulty.

hmmmmmm where would the solenoid be?

[shane.trammell]

Your car dying sounds like my car when my pump went out. Change the filter, it sounds like fuel is not getting through.

[A4SoftWalker]

Yahhh my 02 locks the fuel door with the cabin doors. Solenoid is a plunger type in the side of the fuel door nearest to the rear if I remember correctly.

Ok here is a pic from ETKA with part # of course verify with old part # or dealer:::

[T0M3K]

I have the part for a year, but still wondering how to swap it

[FoRbAnNa]

hmmmmmm where would the solenoid be?

Found an old pic of the solenoid from when I did some electrical and dynamat mods. It's the same type of solenoid as the one in the trunklid for the electrically controlled trunk lock.

If you need to replace the fuel door solenoid you have to remove the "cover for lock carrier", the rear big plastic piece that covers the whole rear of the trunk (attached with 2nuts and 4clips), then take out the 4 screws holding the two chrome "hooks" for the cargo net on the right side wall in the trunk (trunk lining). Not far from the vent in the trunk lining there is a plastic plug that holds the lining in place to the rear deck, take that out. When you have done that you need to start prying the right trunk lining off because its still attached with 4 clips (in the pic you can see where the clips are) now just bend the trunk lining towards the middle of the car like in the pic to get enough room to work with replacing the solenoid. After you have replaced the solenoid you should lock and unlock the car from the remote to see that the solenoid works as it should before putting everything back in place in reverse order.

Hope this helps

[Dan1969]

Drain your fuel, try again...

[drjonez]

Drain your fuel, try again...

Yup.

Sounds like you got a tank with some water in it.

Years ago my wife got a tank of water...literally. She drive a block down the road after getting gas and the car stalled out. I opened the tank and found it 3/4 full of water....

[dangerouslaser]

lucky she didnt do what most women would do and rev it high so it hydrolocked

[Papachristou]

there are so many things wrong with this thread its unreal.

yes, if your car was locked, your tank would be locked
pouring water and suger down a gas tank is easier said than done. i think some have screens too which wouldnt allow a thick mixture
its more than likely a pump, filter or other problem (check valve, evap, something) possibly bad gas
why would you file an insurance claim because your car broke down? find the problem and go from there. even if you have bad gas/water i doubt the repair would be a whole lot more than your deductible. filing the claim may make your insurance go up or move you into a higher risk catagory.

[drjonez]

lucky she didnt do what most women would do and rev it high so it hydrolocked

It's hard to compress water, the fuel pump blew up first....that and my wife is pretty good about knowing what's going on with her cars.