Cold Start Problems...

[NCA01]

Hello All...

I think this subject has been mentioned before... but I need your help / advice with the
following problem I have been seeing the past week. Basically it's a cold start issue.
If I have left the car over night or in the cold for some time. I have problems starting her.
I turn the key in the ignition and there is nothing. There car has power from the battery
but there is no ignition and she does not fire. I can turn her over a number of times and
nothing. Leave her for a while and then all of a sudden she will fire up.
Once warm the problem seems to go away.

Has any one else experienced this? I remember reading something similar a while back.
Any ideas to what it might be?

Thanks in advance,
NCA01

Noggy Blue B6 Avant.

[1781cc]

same problem here... although I have found a way around it!

on a morning where it doesnt start, pop the hood, leave the ignition on, remove the audi plastic cover with the rings on and listen for a high pitch noise, once you have found it, tap it quite hard with something metallic for a few goes (I use the LPG nozzle converter), replace plastic, close hood go back and start your car!

its obviously a starter motor problem, but mine only does it after a humid night (ie, rain or frost!)

[elmo]

Had exactly the same problem as you have described above. See the thread I opened here:

http://www.rs246.com/index.php?name=PNp ... ic&t=80076

This is probably your problem, but try the switch first as this is a common fault and reasonably cheap in comparison to the starter.

I have not had the problem since, and the last few weeks it has been down to -10c.

Good luck.

[SCBN3]

hi all

Have had the same problem for a while now. I've had the ignition switch changed and it's made no difference, in fact the problem has got worse! Have gone from not starting initially but fine after 10 minutes to "nope - I'm not going to start at all"!

Am waiting for a trailer to get mine up to a garage. Will let you know outcome - if anyone has any other ideas I'd be grateful. Talk of starter motors and relays is worrying me....!

Scott

[verysideways]

There car has power from the battery
but there is no ignition and she does not fire. I can turn her over a number of times and nothing.

Can i clarify, she spins but doesn't fire, is that right?
Because i've had the other problem with mine recently, whereby i turn the key and the starter motor doesn't do anything at all, she doesn't spin.
I can keep turning the key back and forth and back and forth and sooner or later she actually spins up and fires.

I assumed i have a dry connection in the back of the ignition barrel, so had planned to take the steering cowling off and check the connections.

[NCA01]

Hello mate,

The exact same problem as you... I turn the key and there is nothing. Does not spin at all. Car was left at Stansted airport this weekend in the cold and damp. When I got back to her last night it took me around 45 mins before I could start her. Again trying and trying over and over. Leave her for a while and then try again. All of a sudden she fires up. Very lumpy and took a long time to warm up / smooth out. I am a little worried that the continued trying is going to cause some long term damage.

Let me know what you find and perhaps I will do the same.

Cheers,
NCA01

[verysideways]

As elmo mentioned above, have a look at this thread:
http://www.rs246.com/index.php?name=PNp ... ic&t=80076

That's what i'm going to try, as i suspect it's the switch on the end of the ignition barrel. I have had similar behaviour before in other cars which was down to this sort of part, and a few people seem to have found this part (which is a standard VAG part across lots of cars) often produces this behaviour.
Worth a shot for £27?

[SCBN3]

Heard back from the dealer and apparently the starter motor has gone - current is getting to it but doesn't pass beyond it. They did mention that apparently changing the starter motor on a B8 S4 is an engine out job and costs about £3k!!!!

Changing the ignition switch did make a difference for me - unfortunately the difference was that it's now clear something else has packed up There must be known vulnerability when it's particularly cold/damp which doesn't help when it comes to paying to get the problem fixed

[no_RS]

B8 S4's are still under warranty no wonder it's £3k....Still having to take the engine out for a start motor repair is outrageous...

[SCBN3]

Got my car back complete with new starter motor and all seems well so far.....

[Bincenzo]

Fellas, had the same problem. Turns out it was the starter motor bearings. Had it reconditioned and all's well now. Interestingly, Audi's first action was to change the ignition switch ( and managed to put the steering wheel back on offset-muppets!) Needless to say I didn't pay for that!

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