Car will not start

[Chinny]

Hi all. Got into the car today and it won’t start. I get a click when pressing the start button and even though the clutch is fully pressed down I get the following message on the dash



Any ideas? No issues reported to me yesterday when I took it for its MOT.


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[mikep99]

Looks like one of the clutch switches has gone and not registering you've put the clutch down.
of you do a search on here, there's been previous threads.
HTH
Mike

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[js47]

Agree with Mike, though when mine failed it failed the other way — I could start the car without depressing the clutch. Do note that there are two clutch switches, so I expect yours failed on the other one compared to mine. Which is good news since that’s the easier one to replace (though I don’t think either are particularly difficult).

[Chinny]

Thanks guys did a search on here and found the part number and fitting guide

For info part numbers below



Ordered both just in case the other one packs up

Anyone here changed their clutch switch?
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/topic? ... source=app

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[coffey555]

When one of my clutch switches failed, it would still start if you held the starter button down for longer. The revs can hang a bit as the car gets confused when you change gear but should still be drive-able.

The later spec switches are more robust, not touched mine in years. I remember it taking a fair amount of effort to get it to rotate and 'click' fully home into position!

[Chinny]

It was the white switch that failed





I bought a new blue switch as well even though that one seemed fine. Will keep the other as a spare. Fitting was relatively easy once I’d got my body into a decent position

Below is the original part and it was the shaft that got stuck and wouldn’t move


What I did realise was that I had to keep the clutch down for a few mins before the car would start after fitting the new switch in.
After that car starts straight away. Price for the switches is £28.74 each.


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[Chinny]

So part 2 of the car won’t start. Last Thursday morning was about to take my daughter to school and same thing happened again. Clutch down and nothing. Opened the door to see if I could hear anything and all I was getting was a click. Called the RAC who put a jump pack on and still only a loader click. The starter motor had given up. Car was booked in to have a forge oil cooler for the 12th of February and the garage [VRT]. Gave them a bell and they took it in early for me.

So new starter, new oil cooler , service. One of the Rear break callipers is sticking so that’s getting sorted. Leak from one of the power steering pipes. A New power steering cooler. Plus a few other jobs getting done while it’s there. And a large bill




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[GhiniRS4]

So part 2 of the car won’t start. Last Thursday morning was about to take my daughter to school and same thing happened again. Clutch down and nothing. Opened the door to see if I could hear anything and all I was getting was a click. Called the RAC who put a jump pack on and still only a loader click. The starter motor had given up. Car was booked in to have a forge oil cooler for the 12th of February and the garage [VRT]. Gave them a bell and they took it in early for me.

So new starter, new oil cooler , service. One of the Rear break callipers is sticking so that’s getting sorted. Leak from one of the power steering pipes. A New power steering cooler. Plus a few other jobs getting done while it’s there. And a large bill




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I've been dealing with this issue for quite some time now. Can I ask, does the difficulty in starting only occur after the car has been sitting idle for a few days (around 4-5 days) and then you try to start it? I've been experiencing a similar problem for a while. If it fails to start initially, and after trying a few times (with no response, at most just a clicking sound from the starter motor), waiting for about 2-3 minutes seems to help, and then it starts. In the worst-case scenario, if it still doesn't start after the above process, I turn off the ignition, go back inside the house to get something, and then try starting it again (waiting for about 5-10 minutes), and it usually starts on the first try.

※ If used daily, there are no issues with starting. The problem only occurs after the vehicle has been idle for some time.

I'm really hesitant to address whether the starter motor needs to be replaced. Besides the part being expensive, replacing this component is somewhat difficult. Although there are online videos from fellow car enthusiasts demonstrating how to effectively replace the starter motor, whether the technician is willing to accept this method is another matter altogether.

So, I'd like to know if, after leaving the vehicle unused for an extended period, trying to start it again, the starting process has been normal?

Thank you.

[Chinny]

So part 2 of the car won’t start. Last Thursday morning was about to take my daughter to school and same thing happened again. Clutch down and nothing. Opened the door to see if I could hear anything and all I was getting was a click. Called the RAC who put a jump pack on and still only a loader click. The starter motor had given up. Car was booked in to have a forge oil cooler for the 12th of February and the garage [VRT]. Gave them a bell and they took it in early for me.

So new starter, new oil cooler , service. One of the Rear break callipers is sticking so that’s getting sorted. Leak from one of the power steering pipes. A New power steering cooler. Plus a few other jobs getting done while it’s there. And a large bill




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I've been dealing with this issue for quite some time now. Can I ask, does the difficulty in starting only occur after the car has been sitting idle for a few days (around 4-5 days) and then you try to start it? I've been experiencing a similar problem for a while. If it fails to start initially, and after trying a few times (with no response, at most just a clicking sound from the starter motor), waiting for about 2-3 minutes seems to help, and then it starts. In the worst-case scenario, if it still doesn't start after the above process, I turn off the ignition, go back inside the house to get something, and then try starting it again (waiting for about 5-10 minutes), and it usually starts on the first try.

※ If used daily, there are no issues with starting. The problem only occurs after the vehicle has been idle for some time.

I'm really hesitant to address whether the starter motor needs to be replaced. Besides the part being expensive, replacing this component is somewhat difficult. Although there are online videos from fellow car enthusiasts demonstrating how to effectively replace the starter motor, whether the technician is willing to accept this method is another matter altogether.

So, I'd like to know if, after leaving the vehicle unused for an extended period, trying to start it again, the starting process has been normal?

Thank you.

I do something leave the car sat for a few days and it would start fine. I used to use it to and from work 5 days a week plus school drop off it wouldn’t normally get used over the weekend. On this occasion I used the car the day before and it was fine but the next day it wasn’t. I did get a price for the starter from Audi think it was £625 or £675. Then fitting on top. The car is with an Indy dealer. As it was going there for the oil cooler leak. I’m not in the country and the cars still with them so can’t give you a price of the starter plus fitting now but if you want I’ll let you know much that was.


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[GhiniRS4]

I do something leave the car sat for a few days and it would start fine. I used to use it to and from work 5 days a week plus school drop off it wouldn’t normally get used over the weekend. On this occasion I used the car the day before and it was fine but the next day it wasn’t. I did get a price for the starter from Audi think it was £625 or £675. Then fitting on top. The car is with an Indy dealer. As it was going there for the oil cooler leak. I’m not in the country and the cars still with them so can’t give you a price of the starter plus fitting now but if you want I’ll let you know much that was.


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Thank you for your response. Although I cannot provide a definitive solution to the problem yet, I hope that by sharing these experiences, we can identify the issue. When you return, I hope you won't mind sharing the subsequent usage status with us again. Also, thank you for your willingness to provide information. I have already contacted some parts suppliers to inquire about prices.

Best regards.

[Chinny]

I do something leave the car sat for a few days and it would start fine. I used to use it to and from work 5 days a week plus school drop off it wouldn’t normally get used over the weekend. On this occasion I used the car the day before and it was fine but the next day it wasn’t. I did get a price for the starter from Audi think it was £625 or £675. Then fitting on top. The car is with an Indy dealer. As it was going there for the oil cooler leak. I’m not in the country and the cars still with them so can’t give you a price of the starter plus fitting now but if you want I’ll let you know much that was.


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Thank you for your response. Although I cannot provide a definitive solution to the problem yet, I hope that by sharing these experiences, we can identify the issue. When you return, I hope you won't mind sharing the subsequent usage status with us again. Also, thank you for your willingness to provide information. I have already contacted some parts suppliers to inquire about prices.

Best regards.

Hi bud. Sorry totally forgot to put up the cost. For the starter.

Below is the breakdown of costs


That’s without. Vat.

As well as that I had a minor service carried out
A forge oil cooler
Drivers side rear brake calliper refurb
Both Front anti roll bar links
Break fluid change
Air con service
Power steering cooler
Power steering line from rack to pump
One of the milltek clamps was replaced as well


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[Adymars]

I had exactly the same symptoms for nearly 2yrs and tried a trickle charger, then a new battery, then new relays before finally biting the bullet and having a new starter motor fitted. It would always play up after its been idle for more than 24hrs. It drove me mad and whoever I asked to sort it . Luckily I took a 3yr warranty out when I 1st owned the car in 2019 so it got changed under that.

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[OPOGTS]

Hi everyone, new to the the forum, just picked up my 'new' B7 RS4 Avant last month, loving it, will post about that separately at some point!

I have also had this sporadic starting issue and only the first start of the day. What I've learned so far is you have to press the button and then WAIT. Sometimes up to 5 seconds, and then the car will start. I'd obviously kept pressing the button, which must then turn it off or reset something, but if i do absolutely nothing it does actually start fine.

No idea why, but so far thats worked the last few times I've had the issue.

[OPOGTS]

Hi everyone, new to the the forum, just picked up my 'new' B7 RS4 Avant last month, loving it, will post about that separately at some point!

I have also had this sporadic starting issue and only the first start of the day. What I've learned so far is you have to press the button and then WAIT. Sometimes up to 5 seconds, and then the car will start. I'd obviously kept pressing the button, which must then turn it off or reset something, but if i do absolutely nothing it does actually start fine.

No idea why, but so far thats worked the last few times I've had the issue.

Ignore my dreadful suggestion above! As it turns out this doesn't work all the time..... doh.

But now i'm at a loss as to what's causing this intermittent and seemingly random issue

[willu17]

I’ve been plagued with issues. New battery, new starter, new clutch switches. Each time I replaced one I thought I had fixed the issue, but after a week or so it would come back until finally the car was stranded and wouldn’t start at all.

I managed to diagnose a dodgy earth strap by putting a jump lead between the earth rod under the battery scuttle and the engine block. The car started straight away.

To fix this I have put a new earth strap between the chassis and engine block and I’ve had no problems since..