Cold start issue
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Cold start issue
Now that we are finally getting cold here in Maryland (especially the next three days) my 2003 A4 1.8T is not wanting to start in the mornings, typically when the temperature is below 30F. I mean it does not even turn over...nothing, but all the lights and radio are on. It takes me sometimes 20 tries to get the car to turn over. I had the same problem last winter and the dealer replaced the clutch switch and that seemed to solve the problem, but now it's happening again. How would cold weather affect the clutch switch? I only have this issue when it's cold, and typically just in the mornings (and the car is always garaged). Anyone else experience this issue? Thanks for any input.
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Re: Cold start issue
The switch might be sticky. Push the clutch all the way to the flow and hold there for a bit. Then try starting.
30F, That is nothing. Currently -12F in Mpls and heading to almost -20F tonight. We are sending it your way over the next few days.
30F, That is nothing. Currently -12F in Mpls and heading to almost -20F tonight. We are sending it your way over the next few days.
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Same here
I've been trying to figure out the same issue with my car. 2003 A4 1.8T with a manual transmission. The problem only seems to occur when it is both really cold outside and the car has been sitting overnight. Once I get it started in the morning the rest of the day it is fine regardless of the temperature and the fact there is no indoor parking where I work. My car is normally garaged at home, but I have to park outside overnight on occassion (when my wife steals the garage). Up until this morning I assumed it was due to temps below 20 (and I had parked outside), but my garage isn't that cold and I had the issue this morning. Car had been sitting in the garage since Saturday night.
I did search the forum for this problem and it sounds like it could be the battery, clutch switch, starter switch, or bad cables (corrosion). I just replaced the battery last week in case that was the problem. The original didn't owe me anything anyway. When I get a chance I will check out the starter switch and cables. Gonna have to wait though as my poor baby needs some body work after doing a 180 on some ice last week. Just happy it wasn't hurt too badly.
I did search the forum for this problem and it sounds like it could be the battery, clutch switch, starter switch, or bad cables (corrosion). I just replaced the battery last week in case that was the problem. The original didn't owe me anything anyway. When I get a chance I will check out the starter switch and cables. Gonna have to wait though as my poor baby needs some body work after doing a 180 on some ice last week. Just happy it wasn't hurt too badly.
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Re: Cold start issue
OK....holding down the clutch for about 10 seconds this morning and then turning the key worked! Car started right up. Thanks for the suggestion and hopefully it will work tomorrow morning as well as we are expected to be around 5F.
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Re: Cold start issue
Cold as hell here too (MPLS, -13 F). Been having the same problems with my car. Brought it to the dealer on Saturday to try and replicate it, no luck. They thought it might be the clutch switch too. I also was reading on another forum that it may be the Ignition Contacts or something. They said they contract and you need to insert and re-insert the key a bunch of times in order to get it working.
Any other suggestions?
Any other suggestions?
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Good to hear you were not hurt. The usual suspects that you listed
are the ones that occur to me also.
My sugestion below is based on the clutch switch seeming to be a bit flakey for me even in warm weather. It seems to need to be pushed ALL the way to the floor and floor mats may not compress as much in the cold making it even more likely to be a problem.
Also the switch may have a spring actuator and grease may get sticky at the low temps.
Let us know how it sorts out.
My sugestion below is based on the clutch switch seeming to be a bit flakey for me even in warm weather. It seems to need to be pushed ALL the way to the floor and floor mats may not compress as much in the cold making it even more likely to be a problem.
Also the switch may have a spring actuator and grease may get sticky at the low temps.
Let us know how it sorts out.
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been there - I wrote about the ignition contacts contracting
I'm the one in the archives on this topic--putting key in and removing it many times, etc. Although it was 3 degrees this morning at 8:30 am, my car started (2003 A4 1.8TQ 5 speed). I had same problem as you guys for '04-05 and '05-06 successive winters, during which my dealer could not duplicate the problem. The message would read "Depress clutch before starting car." Of course it was pushed to the floor. One day I ran into former service writer who's now at different dealership, and he advised that the ignition contacts contract. Last winter, during 5 degree weather, car again wouldn't star, turn over, or do anything. I mailed lemon letter to MI since car fell within NJ lemon statute at the time). Dealer (Town Motors, Englewood NJ) contacted Audi engineering, and they supposedly found a car in --get this-- Hawaii that had the same problem. They changed the clutch switch twice (day after it was done car wouldn't start and was towed in) so they changed it again. Then they changed ignition wiring harness, did something with fuel line and gave me the car back. Of course, by this point it was >30. (Lemon letter is arguably still in effect according to NJ Cons Protection agency). But so far this winter, my car is starting.
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Audiworld Junior Member
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Re: Good to hear you were not hurt. The usual suspects that you listed
Again, same problem this morning. I did try just holding in the clutch for a while, and then removing the key several times. This seemed to help and the car started on the 5 or so try.
Still annoying how an decently exensive German engineered car can have such stupidly small issues when the Geo Metro next to me starts right up....frustrating.
Still annoying how an decently exensive German engineered car can have such stupidly small issues when the Geo Metro next to me starts right up....frustrating.
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Update to Cold Issues
My car is currently at the dealer. They said that it was the starter...odd. Not sure if they found the right problem since I thought it was the clutch switch, and the car did start usually, just not in extreme cold temps.
They said there was power going to the starter, but not coming out of it. I suppose I trust their diagnosis.
They said there was power going to the starter, but not coming out of it. I suppose I trust their diagnosis.