koolhand

I've checked the archives ...

I can hear the "click" solenoid stays engaged for few seconds then retreats...making no contact or attempt to start. Lights seem to stay bright...bumping up current at battery and at positive terminal under hood...100amps on charger/starter makes no difference...

Thinking the excessive corrosion problem could be limiting factor to starter motor... I know from past vehicles that bendix gear should contact flywheel...if starter turns but it doesn't seem to be doing it.

Questions:
Is there a winding resistance to check on starter motor? Will probably see if there's infinite resistance between the positive and negative terminals
What are possible causes? Solutions?

Push started car to remove it from not the best neighborhood where it decided to stall...runs fine, clutch engages fine, just clicks when I try to start it.

Any assistance greatly appreciated.

Luke

koolhand

Questions:
Is there a winding resistance to check on starter motor? Will probably see if there's infinite resistance between the positive and negative terminals...if nothing I know the windings are shot.
What about the solinoid...looks like hell but looking for breakdown/testing procedure in Bentleys for it and the starter.

What are possible causes? Any Audi common?Solutions?

Thanks again,

Luke

Kneale Brownson

First thing to check with this kind of problem on an Audi is the wiring to the starter. The pix is of my wife's 4kq, but I've had the same kind of issue with the wiring to the starters on both my 200q20vs too.

On the 4kq I had to splice a wire that went all the way to up by the battery mounting at the top of the engine bay to find copper that wasn't turning green. Both the 200s needed about 16 inches of new wire to get rid of the corrosion.

Since doing those cars, I've read that marine wiring holds up better in these environments, so next time it'll be marine wire getting spliced in.

<img src="http://www.pbase.com/kneale_brownson/image/43663744.jpg">

koolhand

Thanks Kneale,

Yeah, from the looks of mine, I'll probably be replacing some...marine sounds good, just have'ta find some.

Took starter off, replaced solenoid ($22.31) at local rebuild shop. The solenoid would do okay when the contacts were stripped down and cleaned but the contacts were corroded badly.
Cleaned up most contacts, battery + and - and the ones at the starter, scraped them clean then lubed the contact to encourage current flow.

Starts now (knock on wood), think the periodic maintenance will help keep major problems from occurring, or at least I think that when I'm doing it.

thanks for all the help. I'm sure more questions will follow.

Luke