ok... my car has started on the button since I bought it.......

 

this morning got in... all lights working , power there, wouldn't turn over... not even a click! (Its not the battery, thats quite new and expensive, and over powerful) was almost like trying to start an auto in "D" !

 

took swmbo's car to work... and asked her to look into it....

 

she got in it, and it started 1st time, without any issue! drove perfectly to our tame mech's, who couldn't find anything wrong with it, then she went shopping in it etc ect , all fine!

 

I got home , got in it tried it, worked perfectly *sigh

 

 

so one random non start, no interference, then working perfectly ...

 

any ideas?

 

Ta!

First check the battery terminals for tightness.

Starter solenoid wire nearly but not quite broken, where it comes out of the connector?

Check the terminals on the battery fuse box for melting that could be a cause?

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First check the battery terminals for tightness.

 

 

Starter solenoid wire nearly but not quite broken, where it comes out of the connector?

 

 

Check the terminals on the battery fuse box for melting that could be a cause?

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Thanks guys , tame mech went straight for that , said "this is where they go......" it was fine.... he said the cable corrodes where the live comes off the battery.... he checked all cables in the starter system too ....

Edited 15 March, 201610 yr by sharkrider

So next it is Key / Switch / Barrel / Immobiliser that is the suspect.

So next it is Key / Switch / Barrel / Immobiliser that is the suspect.

it felt just like it hadn't recognized the immobilizer or something like that ..... especially the way it started and ran perfectly when our lass tried it later.... thats why I compared it to trying to start an auto in "D" ! lol...

 

does the key battery need to be good for the immobilizer to work ? or would it recognize the key even without a battery ? (like a transponder...)

Stuck starter?

Starter motor brushes worn down to almost nothing?

Stuck starter?

 

 

Starter motor brushes worn down to almost nothing?

my honest first thought was the starter itself..... (it would have been battery had I not known how good/new the battery is.... my app shows correct charging from alternator too)

 

it didn't do the "solenoid click" though that i would expect from a stuck starter.... also the 99%  of times it has started, it has been even and smooth... not really suggesting the starter was fading out....

 

however: starters are not expensive... its a high mileage car , and I WILL go through things replacing them....

 

I don't think changing the starter is too big or expensive a job, and I may as well do it right ?

 

probably the next thing on my list!

new ones £49 ,  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-A3-1-6-1-8T-1996-2003-TT-1-8T-2001-2006-Engine-Starter-Motor-Car-New-/310734561883?hash=item485939225b:g:zBcAAOSwd4tUAbNv second hand ones from about £20 ...

I've had stuck starters before with no audible ticking...

It's been a while but I seem to recall one trick being to put the car in gear, release handbrake and rock it back and forth a bit.

£49 seems reasonable...

I've had stuck starters before with no audible ticking...

It's been a while but I seem to recall one trick being to put the car in gear, release handbrake and rock it back and forth a bit.

£49 seems reasonable...

good trick, if it is worn bushes etc..... rocking in gear to move the bushes along and try again would define the problem! (taking me back to my teenage years of old cars and tape to hold it together! lol)

 

if it happens again, i will report back, and also report on a starter motor replacement etc.. I will replace it when i can , just for piece of mind I think..... luckily my insurance includes breakdown etc .....

Good luck buddy... look forward to hearing just how gosh-darn easy a job it is - coz you just know it's highly likely to be in my future  

with starter motors , its **** easy IF you can get to them and a ball ache if you can't ! lol.... havent even looked at it yet :P

easy IF you can get to them and a ball ache if you can't ! lol

Been in the latter part of that quote many, many times... not a favourite job of mine.

two friends with silver mk4 astras had the same problem, both cases was the starter motor... 99% of the time it would fire straight away, then, when they were in a rush, or it was piddling down with grumpy child and even grumpier woman on board... nothing! rocking doesn't always work, as it can't turn the motor unless it has engaged with the flywheel - hitting it with something solid was more effective. But ringing me to bring jump leads also helped?! (maybe that bit extra amps helped...)

 

Moral of the story is, if its silver, it might be the starter motor thats getting a bit tired - a bit of carbon on the armature, or a bush thats past its best.

A new starter motor and a fresh battery in the key fob won't harm anything. good luck