just a thought but did you try bumping or jump starting her when she was playing up? the reason i ask is that mine occasionally turns over but doesnt quite catch so to speak, The minute I bump/jump her she springs to life fine, It coincides with if the battery is slightly run down (kids playing in it with the lights on etc) what I was told on here is that the V8 needs to be turning over pretty damn fast to start and what sounds like its turning over great in any other car is simply not quite fast enough for the V8, it happened to me on saturday I hadnt had her running for a while and had been doing lots of work with the doors open, ignition on etc and I got in to move her, she turned over at what i appeared to think of as normal but wouldnt start, strong smell of fuel from the exhaust, I started to panic and then remembered what i had been told on here so I connected the Audi up to her and you could hear the starter spinning much faster and hey presto she fires almost immediately up, what got me thinking was that you got her started after you added new fuel AND charged up the battery. Im sure a garage and an auto electrician would have checked this 1st but maybe worth a mention?

Just an afterthought: when mine ran dry one day I added a couple of L of unleaded hoping it would be enough just to get her up my drive, she turned and turned but wouldnt start, I suspected blocked fuel filter etc, after a chat on here I was told to add quite a few more Litres of fuel as there has to be quite a bit in all of the return pipes etc to get her running, I added about half a tank and she started straight up.

Hi,jumping was never an option as he's an auto but I must have had the battery on and off a dozen times charging it up.However,a fully charged battery and a pair of jump leads on the Mazda Bongo was plenty enough to turn the engine over quick enough but still to no avail.It wasn't until I added the 5 gallons on new fuel and a dose of redex that he finally blasted back into life.If I'd have done that first....who knows.I'd taken it for a test drive when the fuel light came on and then added two gallons but it still never caught.It probably took about £60 worth of fuel,which took it to about 3 quarters full.
Just as a further point of discussion,the Mazda Bongo that we also have starts to cut out once the fuel level goes below half a tank,one theory is that there is a leak somewhere that in turn is causing condensation in the tank which then mixes with the diesel causing poor running.When the tank is full there's no where for the condensation to form.Ummmmh...Who can say.
Just read your afterthought...makes sense.

Hi all,thought I'd give an update.Now clocked over the hundred mile mark with no starting problems whatsoever.Everyday use including the .Not using the throttle when starting has taken some getting used to but I like it.My better other half has also taken to using 'Leroy' at every opportunity has so far has come back with none of the usual "There's a weird noise coming from somewhere".So it's all good.There's plenty left to do....and loads that I'd like to do.It will have to be one job at a time.

Never say never,as they say.So, here I am again after a couple of months of nearly trouble free enjoyment with 'Leroy'.However,twice now,ney possibly 3 times I have lost power completely and have 'limped' home.I think this may be related to the initial problem I had as described earlier in this post.Now I have more pointers if you like...Each time has been after driving for a number of hours and more than likely when the tank has been less than half full.Is it possible that the pump in the tank is failing? At first I thought it was due to the engine temperature causing something to fail but his last time the tank was about a quarter full and even starting the next day when cold didn't work.
6 gallons of petrol and started the following day no problem.Any thoughts anyone.???
The part I'm looking to replace is ESR3492 Fuel tank pump.

Have you looked inside the fuel tank for crap?
I used to have a Golf that done this kind of thing,kept cutting out spluttering and not starting.I changed all the usual stuff to no avail.
Turned out i had rust in the tank,the filler arm had rusted out,when i got low on fuel or braked heavy the rust would get sucked up against the "outwards" fuel pipe and starvve the engine of fuel......
Just a thought like?

Good thought.Before finally managing to get him running the fuel system from back to front was going to be my next port of call,of course once he was running I put that plan in the 'one day' folder.Looks like that folder has just come to the top of the pile.He'd been on a forecourt for the best part of a year and probably never had more than a quarter of a tank of fuel in.Since I've had him running I've always tried to keep over half a tank full,just got a bit complacent.
So,in through the boot with a torch then...Thanks for the tip.