[JamieR]

Hello, I am hoping to find a simple solution to fix my twenty year old little lady. I live in the Channel Islands UK and I use the car to go to work witch is not far. Max speed of about 35 miles an hour. Very dependable car. Pretty hard to start in the mornings but once started the first time she is a kitten all day.

This morning on the start, she coughed a bit, and some black smoke came out the exaust. Killed the battery and didn't want to pick up. Every once in a while you could feel the little cough. Got a boost and got her going but still coughing every once in a while and then running seemed pretty okay but if I hit the acellerator she coughs complains almost stalls then hits okay. Then it seems fine to hold 2000 rpm or so. When I put her in gear though it's knocking, sputtering, and not going anywhere.

So could it be a bad plug? Timing belt? It was wet could be the distributer. I guess the timing belt would not let it start at all. and the Distributer usually doesn't even let you get a tick out the starter let alone turn over eh?

There is no oil around the cylinder head or valve cover. I am not burning coolant and the temperature guage is always steady.

Any advice or help is greatly appreciated. It's an 86 Audi 90 5 cylinder auto.