Is it the starter or what?
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Is it the starter or what?
I had my check engine light on and my airbag light. I ran it on the Vag-Com and it said something about some hose leaking that cleans the air coming out of the exhaust. Who cares! Anyways, I couldn't get it to reset of course because the want $200.
I didn't drive my car for 3 days do to a big truck detail this weekend. I went to go pick up the customer to get his truck and it wouldn't turn over. It would try to turn over but couldn't excede. The voltage was going down also. I kept trying and of course the car didn't like it and my check engine light was flashing. I let cool down and later tonight I tried again and it wouldn't turn over. I changed the battery two months ago, so it shouldn't be that. Is it the starter? I have never changed that in two year I have had it. It has 66k on the odometer. Also anyother software to read codes and reset them for free?
Thanks for your help!
I didn't drive my car for 3 days do to a big truck detail this weekend. I went to go pick up the customer to get his truck and it wouldn't turn over. It would try to turn over but couldn't excede. The voltage was going down also. I kept trying and of course the car didn't like it and my check engine light was flashing. I let cool down and later tonight I tried again and it wouldn't turn over. I changed the battery two months ago, so it shouldn't be that. Is it the starter? I have never changed that in two year I have had it. It has 66k on the odometer. Also anyother software to read codes and reset them for free?
Thanks for your help!
AudiWorld Super User
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huh? what? You were cranking it and it didn't start? Now it will not turn over?
sounds like you have a problem with somethig and you cranked it until you drained the battery. If you have the vag read the codes, find the problem, fix it and charge the battery.
AudiWorld Senior Member
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Nope!
Battery's fine- interior did not dim, clock didn't reset, etc. It cranked slowly on saturday, then sunday it turned over once very slowly and would not turn over any more. I was able to push-start it (love stick!) and it ran fine. Lights can still be turned on, etc. alt. charging at the same voltage while running as it was before it stopped starting.
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well, it takes a lot of juice to start a car (or "crank" the motor)...
If your starters toast you'll get nothing or a high pitched noise from it. If you kept cranking the motor without it actually starting, you probably drained the battery too much to start the car but it's not "totally" drained. Try to jump start or compression start it again, go and have it tested. If it cranks and doesn't start you may have bigger problems to worry about.
AudiWorld Senior Member
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That's the thing... it isn't "using" the available batt power!
In my experience, any car that didn't have sufficient battery power experienced symptoms- lights dimming, clock resetting, etc. I'm not getting any of that in this case. The last time I tried starting it was after a 20 minute drive- should have been plenty of power, especially since the alternator is charging at the same rate it has been since I bought the car 3 months ago... So if it's the starter, I might get noises of some kind... I'll check it out and take a careful listen in the engine bay. How do I seperate starter problems from the solenoid (Is that built-in in this starter?) and/or relay?
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if it were the battery, wouldn't the lights at least dim and/or the alternator register a different charging voltage?
If I check with a meter, the batt should read 12v across the terminals with the car/accessories off, and about 14 (same as the charging gauge) with the car running... right?
If I check with a meter, the batt should read 12v across the terminals with the car/accessories off, and about 14 (same as the charging gauge) with the car running... right?
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can you start the car at all?
I never screwed with the starter on the audi but i remember my friend (an audi / porsche mechanic) replaced one for a customer that self diagnosed a bad starter...turned out to be a simple clutch switch.
If you can get it running, go to autozone or a sears and have them check out and load test your battery (usually free). If you recently replaced it, it may even be under warrantee. It isn't uncommon to have a new battery go bad. Always think of the simple things first.
What make me think that it isn't the starter is that you said it cranks.
If you can get it running, go to autozone or a sears and have them check out and load test your battery (usually free). If you recently replaced it, it may even be under warrantee. It isn't uncommon to have a new battery go bad. Always think of the simple things first.
What make me think that it isn't the starter is that you said it cranks.
Head Cat Herder
Joined: Oct 1998
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If you turn the key, and the engine doesn't crank at all, but you have over 12v...
it could also be the ignition switch.. I'd think the lights would dim a little, but the interior lights use almost no current... I have seen the clock reset with a very weak battery..