Help/Advice needed - Starter Relay - Fuel consumption

B6/7 S4/RS4
#1

Gents, greetings form Greece.

Have been having some issues lately withe my B7 RS4. There are two distinct areas of consideration:

  1. A starter relay problem P3088; and

  2. Very high fuel and oil consumption issue.

  3. I have been having the same problem for the apst 2 months. Under cold morning weather >10 Celcius the car will not crank. Turning the key I can hear the fule pump, press the starter, I hear the strater realy “clicking” and nothing. Have been reaidng that this could be a starter issue or a fuel filter issue. The latter has been changed about 15k km ago and as regards the starter, I would imagine that since I can hear the starter relay on the left hand side panel (where the fuses are) “click” that means that the button works… or I am wrong? Any ideas where else to look?

  4. The 2nd looks more challenign as a problem. I had a big service check with a carbon clean up. It was “the worst carbong build up” that my mechanic has ever seen in my car. The service also included oil change. Got the car which run just fine, no fault codes other that the relay mentioned above and a Bank 2 intermitent intkae manifold flap sensor (which I think I will be changin this part 079135619 as the mechanic did a pressure check and there was no apparent solenoid leaks/issues). After 2k-3k miles got an oil light. That took me aback. It was sthe first time teh car asked fro more oil after such a short period. I also got to think the “worst case of carbon build up” my mechanic has seen in my car. On top my fule consumption has gone north! A full tank got me around 420km (260 miles) before the reserve light lit. now it barely makes it to 360k (220 miles).

I got to think that my oil stem valves have gone bad and need replacement, or my PCV. He had a lok at the PCV, it had some oil inside but he said this was normal (could he be wroing?).

I plan of pulling some loggs to check the fuel trim and the lamda, in case I am running reach. But if I did, wouldn’t there be a fault code?

In any case, I would appreciate your 2 cents on potential areas to look at.

Thanks in advance