Any tricks to starting car after fuel filter change?

[rave]

Just changed the filter and it's taking quite some time to fire. I figured after a few key cycles and 20 second cranks it would have by now but nothing. Are there any tricks to priming the system without having to crank the car over? I know every so often you can open the door and turn the key on and that will prime it, is that my only option? I'd rather avoid cranking any further because the last thing I need is the starter to fry on me.

[Black3.2]

did you unscrew the fuel line from the rail and not re-attach? Fuel filter fuse removed?

[EUROSWAGR]

It should fire right up, it's not like the whole system drained.

Everything is connected correctly? fuse? like black mentioned

20 seconds is a long damn time to be cranking the engine. Is there any chance the battery drained a little before or while you were doing the fuel filter? If the battery doesn't have enough power it may not turn the motor over fast enough to start it so try jumping it.

After I rebuilt my heads and the car sat for 5 months the battery was dead. I tried to jump the car with my 07 Silverado and had no luck. So i decided to jump it with my 2012 Audi Q5 and the S4 fired up on the first try, it was weird, but these cars require a pretty high amount of cranking amps.

[rave]

did you unscrew the fuel line from the rail and not re-attach? Fuel filter fuse removed?

I didn't do either of these. Just unclipped the filter and swapped it out . What do I have to do with the fuse and why must I unscrew the line at the rail?

[BillyT]

When we were kids I poured raw gas down the carburetor of my brother's Chevelle and as he was trying to get it started the entire engine burst into flames. I ran in the house and grabbed the fire extinguishers and emptied both to no avail so we popped the e-brake and pushed the car down the driveway to the street so it didn't burn the house down. Eventually I found a big piece of flame resistant insulated padding in the garage and was able to stomp out the gas/grease fire with that. We went to Sears and bought new fire extinguishers and moved the car back where it was and 20 years later my parents have no idea.

[B6JoeS4]

Turn the key to the on position a few times so they fuel pump primes. Cranking it that long is extremely stressful on the starter and battery

[rave]

Going back at it now. Perhaps I put the lines on wrong.. I think that may be the only other thing to try. There's a skinny and fatter line, which is suppose to go on the middle outlet? I thought I had it right but maybe not

[mankytron]

It should fire right up, it's not like the whole system drained.

Everything is connected correctly? fuse? like black mentioned

20 seconds is a long damn time to be cranking the engine. Is there any chance the battery drained a little before or while you were doing the fuel filter? If the battery doesn't have enough power it may not turn the motor over fast enough to start it so try jumping it.

After I rebuilt my heads and the car sat for 5 months the battery was dead. I tried to jump the car with my 07 Silverado and had no luck. So i decided to jump it with my 2012 Audi Q5 and the S4 fired up on the first try, it was weird, but these cars require a pretty high amount of cranking amps.

I second that. I was trying to start mine a week ago after sitting a long time, and the battery was poor even though I had the charger on it for a day. The car would crank and crank but not fire. A load test on the battery showed it was toast. A new battery spun it faster an it fired as normal.

[rave]

The car ran not 5 minutes before I changed this. I think the pump isn't working. But I don't get how it would work, then not as soon as I go to prime it with the new filter. Fuse is good. I'm getting a clicking noise behind the intake manifold between the firewire, it's like a circular black thing that I think it's coming from, not sure if that has something to do with it. Will taking the battery cables off help, as in resetting it? I'm kind of stumped, I don't get how I unclip four lines, then the stupid thing doesn't want to fire back up. Talk about pissing me the eff off...

[rave]

Furthermore I even took off the lines that are on the outlet end on the filter housing and tried turning the key to prime and shoot fuel out hopefully, and nothing came out. Which leads me to think it is the pump, but then I don't see why in the hell it would just randomly stop working all of a sudden?

[rave]

Took the fuel pump cover off that's in the trunk (I'm assuming that's what that is) so I can hear something... not a god damn thing. Talk about complete and utter frustration right now. Is there anything else I can check, is there a relay or anything? Pretty pissed off right now, any fast help is greatly appreciated.

[JimmyBones]

Took the fuel pump cover off that's in the trunk (I'm assuming that's what that is) so I can hear something... not a god damn thing. Talk about complete and utter frustration right now. Is there anything else I can check, is there a relay or anything? Pretty pissed off right now, any fast help is greatly appreciated.

You should have four lines and I think the rear two hoses have a blue or black clip. The blue clip hose goes in the middle.

[RicardoTG]

How much gas do you have in the fuel tank? Does any gas leak out when you disconnect the inlet lines? Did you yank on any of the fuel lines during the change, potentially cracking/disconnecting one?

When I replaced my fuel pump and filter and ran the car without the back seat on, it was very clearly audible, but I only had a long (3-4 second) crank the first couple times I started her up. My bet would be on the battery.

If you have a manual, try a roll start.

[rave]

How much gas do you have in the fuel tank? Does any gas leak out when you disconnect the inlet lines? Did you yank on any of the fuel lines during the change, potentially cracking/disconnecting one?

When I replaced my fuel pump and filter and ran the car without the back seat on, it was very clearly audible, but I only had a long (3-4 second) crank the first couple times I started her up. My bet would be on the battery.

If you have a manual, try a roll start.

Lines are fine, even if one were to be cracked or pulled off fuel would still be somewhere but there isn't. I just don't understand how the pump isn't pumping after a filter change. How would you explain this to a customer if you were to be working in a shop? Yes we changed the filter but you need this, this, and/or this now, it just doesn't add up. I would imagine the battery being the least of things to be affecting this, but I am interested in knowing how it would even relate, with it still being strong; haven't had any electrical or low voltage issues. It's very aggravating when the car was driven to the dealer to get the filter, then 20 minutes later it had a new filter on it and now it won't start. I didn't touch anything else either, just jacked it up, disconnected the lines, partially disconnected the one which still had pressure in it and let that leak out into a container, then popped the new piece back in. Oh, I also took off the gas cap, other than that I didn't fiddle with anything anywhere else. Perhaps I'll say a prayer tonight before I go to sleep and hope a miracle happens tomorrow when I turn the key.

[masaraksh]

I changed fuel filter on my B6 S4 about a month ago (with help of AZer)...

We opened gas cap and disconnected the fuel line in the hood before pulling the clips off and swapping the filter. Btw, the amount of gas that spilled out from the fuel lines was pretty huge. like 1liter or so.

After the filter was in, and everything reconnected, I put the key in the on position for maybe 15-20 secs and then put the key to crank and it took maybe 5-10 secs before starting up just fine.

[RicardoTG]

I agree, frustrating.

When I changed mine I tried to swap the lines as quickly as possible, one by one to the new filter so I knew I didn't plug anything in incorrectly. Maybe someone else here can comment if emptying the pressurized line will trip the pump.

Again though, how much fuel do you have in the tank? If your pump isn't priming then either the level control is stopping it, or the pump thinks it already has pressure. Or the pump crapped out.

[rave]

Have about a quater tank or more. I wonder if its the level control but you'd think that would only be temporary and not remaining it off.

[rave]

I changed fuel filter on my B6 S4 about a month ago (with help of AZer)...

We opened gas cap and disconnected the fuel line in the hood before pulling the clips off and swapping the filter. Btw, the amount of gas that spilled out from the fuel lines was pretty huge. like 1liter or so.

After the filter was in, and everything reconnected, I put the key in the on position for maybe 15-20 secs and then put the key to crank and it took maybe 5-10 secs before starting up just fine.

Wish I was as fortunate as you..

[rave]

Fixed. Started from step one and I had the line to the engine on the wrong outlet. Man, I feel like a idiot Could have sworn they were correct because the one had to be pulled just a little bit so I thought it was in the wrong position if I had to do that... ugh.

[BCsniper]

I was just about to say you have the lines plug in wrong.

(sadly been there, done that) The car will endlessly turn over but never start if the lines are hooked up wrong