PoisonBeef

I picked up a cheap (very cheap) slightly damaged a6 on the craigslist. No start, trailered it home.

The starter trigger wire gets power say my test light, so I figure it is in fact a starter. Before I start tearing things apart to get to the silly thing, I decided to bump start it and make sure it does run. I do so , it runs. Pretty nicely for 200k miles. Battery was also flat as can be before I charged it to bump it.

While running I had ABS, air bag and battery lights on. Would the battery light have any connect?

I am 99% sure since the starter trigger wire (lights with the starter relay click, that the starter is kaput.

Input?

SloopJohnB@mac.com

Load test the battery and replace it if bad. A load tester is relatively cheap if you're into buying cars on craiglist and flipping them. I bought one with a digital display, it also checks charging system. Maybe $30 or so online. The analog one I had was perfectly good except the meter cover got lost and meter was damaged and the thing was made in China so no spare parts.

PoisonBeef

replaced the starter today (only 5 hours in/out....)

She starts drives, stops.

the dash is just a bit of a christmas tree.

Prospeeder

Well if the battery light is on, then its probably not charging. The alternator could be bad also, or a connection problem. The low voltage can cause the airbag and abs lights to come on as well.

PoisonBeef

The dash volt gauge shows 12v with the ignition on and engine off. It comes up to 14v with the engine running. That would hint to me that the charging system is working.

Airbag

that's very odd as at 14 v that light should not be on . take a meter and check at the actual battery to see if you have 14volts there. If you do you may have a cluster issue . the ABS modules go bad on these cars all the time but the airbag light is on also . I wonder if someone has replaced a cluster