Heyst

Hi everyone,
I'm looking for part numbers. Starter Brushes and the brush carrier hopefully as one unit.

I'm having starter issues. I push the start button (or key in ignition) and I get a single quick noise as if it tried to attempt to turn over. It's not the dead battery clicking, it just won't start..so..I'm going to put new brushes in.

Has anyone rebuilt their A8 starter yet? I'm sourcing brushes and their carrier but the only one I can find appears to be for an alternator...but looks ridiculously close to the starter brush assembly that I need..here is a picture.

PN# 079-903-015


079903015 Audi A8L starter brushes

MP4.2+6.0

Starters are a major pain in butt on A8's as far as I know. I think Mister Bally may have dealt with it on the D3? See if he chimes in. Failures though are quite rare. Have you looked under the car to consider the access issue? On my C5 A6 4.2 as I recall it was also pretty trapped in place.

At altitude you might consider what type of parts approach you want to use here--if access and then labor are the most painful issues in fact. I get that on vehicles of this age, dealer parts may not make sense. Failure rate seems to be so low that maybe just a junkyard one may have same or better odds of working long term. Obviously the usual later year, lower miles applies. Ones hit in front where motor is compromised (and they then part the motor connected components) typically still won't affect starter for example. Presumably there are rebuilt ones too, but like with the air shocks my instinct these days is that untouched, used OE from a decent year + miles totaled one might be a lower risk.

FWIW, regardless of parts approach, Audi's typically also have the solenoid built into the starter instead of the old bolted to the fender type stuff. It means the solenoid can be a failure point on the starters too, in addition to the brushes and the mechanicals. The click is the solenoid, at least in anything older school Audi or otherwise I have dealt with.

Heyst

Ooooh yes, it does look like a major pain to get to, removing subframe and engine mount, supporting the engine at the rear. I'm no stranger to actually rebuilding a starter per sé, but those were American vehicles.

Weighing the risks involved, why not replace the entire unit with solenoid as one, so that I don't have to get back in there for a while..that's the smart choice, eh?

Somehow was hopeful that someone managed to track down brushes. I found the brushes for the blower motor at a vacuum repair shop, but no luck with these.

MP4.2+6.0

Yep, what I would do given the labor and hassle involved.

Heyst

Incase anyone is interested, here is a link to a pdf file of the starter replacement procedures. I found it on DognMonkey.

Audi A8L D3 Starter Replacement