Refuses to start in the cold!!!!!

[Timster]

Wish it would work on a Mac!!!!

Alex

Use "Parallels" or VMWare then install windows on a separate partition on your Mac (It's easy, honest).
Then you can run whatever Windows software you like.

(I run Elsawin and VCDS on a Mac, doing this)

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Don't forget batteries are at something like 40% operating capacity even when fully charged in these temps.
Starting that v8 must be a fair ole job.

I wish it was the battery, but she doesn't even turn just sits there waiting.......... and go, after about 5 pushes of the button!

well you never know... modern battery controllers are quite fickle. Unlike older cars that would try to turn the car making the unmistakable whump... whump... slow turn over noise. Modern cars will take one look and go "that ain't gonna happen" and not even try.
A good test is to hook up a fully charged (and importantly warm) booster pack. If the car starts first time then battery is a suspect.
Cars in scandanavia have batteries with integral heating circuits to help cold start...
Ironically the concept that "batteries go flat in the cold" is completely misleading... the chemical reaction that produces electrons simply slows down. As long as the battery doesn't freeze it will actually keep it's charge significant'y longer.

[Jonah]

Mine first started with this problem last winter, it went into Audi a couple of times, they changed the relay but it kept failing to start. It wasn't leaving any fault codes and It only ever happened in the cold, but randomly rather than every time. A couple of weeks ago it started to happen again, my car went back to Audi, they kept it for a few days but it never happened with them, so now they fitted this, both LED's light when it starts as normal.



The master tech told me to look at the LED's on start up and he wants to know what happens when it fails to start, this morning it didn't start and both LED's lit up. Car booked back in.

To be continued...

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Have to say that's some good work by the techs. Shows some initiative and desire to find the problem.

[RS4ABM]

Don't forget batteries are at something like 40% operating capacity even when fully charged in these temps.
Starting that v8 must be a fair ole job.

I wish it was the battery, but she doesn't even turn just sits there waiting.......... and go, after about 5 pushes of the button!

well you never know... modern battery controllers are quite fickle. Unlike older cars that would try to turn the car making the unmistakable whump... whump... slow turn over noise. Modern cars will take one look and go "that ain't gonna happen" and not even try.
A good test is to hook up a fully charged (and importantly warm) booster pack. If the car starts first time then battery is a suspect.
Cars in scandanavia have batteries with integral heating circuits to help cold start...
Ironically the concept that "batteries go flat in the cold" is completely misleading... the chemical reaction that produces electrons simply slows down. As long as the battery doesn't freeze it will actually keep it's charge significant'y longer.

Im going to give this a try and will post the results. I'm sure it will be cold enough for it to happen again tomorrow.

Cheers

[RS4ABM]

Mine first started with this problem last winter, it went into Audi a couple of times, they changed the relay but it kept failing to start. It wasn't leaving any fault codes and It only ever happened in the cold, but randomly rather than every time. A couple of weeks ago it started to happen again, my car went back to Audi, they kept it for a few days but it never happened with them, so now they fitted this, both LED's light when it starts as normal.



The master tech told me to look at the LED's on start up and he wants to know what happens when it fails to start, this morning it didn't start and both LED's lit up. Car booked back in.

To be continued...

Looking forward to the results

[Jonah]

I've not posted the results so far due to my broadband been down since before Christmas, all sorted now.

So, audi had the car back and informed me it needed a new starter motor, one had been ordered and audi would stand 70% of the cost under goodwill. I told them that was good of them, however, would the audi warranty I had when the problem originally occurred the previous year have covered this, a phone call back confirmed that it would. I then explained the car had been in with that fault 3 times, all documented, and due to the fact they could not diagnose the problem then, I was not willing to stand any costs now they had found the fault and my warranty had expired. An early Christmas present to me they agreed and stood the full cost, so a big thank you to Audi Stockport.

[TonyHayers]

Wish it would work on a Mac!!!!

Alex

Use "Parallels" or VMWare then install windows on a separate partition on your Mac (It's easy, honest).
Then you can run whatever Windows software you like.

(I run Elsawin and VCDS on a Mac, doing this)

This site might be useful too, looks like someone has sucked the elsawin content and mirrored it:
http://elsaweb.spaghetticoder.org

[Ian_C]

audi had the car back and informed me it needed a new starter motor..... An early Christmas present to me they agreed and stood the full cost, so a big thank you to Audi Stockport.

Audi Stockport seem to have a good reputation - although I'm guessing the bill would have been referred to - and paid by - Audi UK as the dealer won't have literally done it for free.

Battery, relay and starter are the most likely things to go on mine - S4, June 2003, 78,000 mile - and I'm not looking forward to them! Not least because my car port is really tight and slopes backwards, I will not be able to 'roll' the car out if I cannot start it.....

[cherub72]

I had problems with my car a week after I got it, luckily it was a week before the warranty ran out and although they took 5 weeks of having the car to sort the problem they did the work under the warranty. it seem that as long as you tell them before it expires they will honour it.
My starter confused West London Audi for ages as it "all looked OK on the computer" In the end I started to lose the plot and told them to give it to their oldest technician for a few days to see if it did it for him, the spotty kids dind't have a scooby. Guess what.... 2 days later I got a call and they had replicated the fault and found the problem, it was a corroded connection in the loom. They swapped it out and it's been peachy ever since.
I just wish I'd told them about the other things I've found since and maybe they wouls have done those too!

[RS4ABM]

I've not posted the results so far due to my broadband been down since before Christmas, all sorted now.

So, audi had the car back and informed me it needed a new starter motor, one had been ordered and audi would stand 70% of the cost under goodwill. I told them that was good of them, however, would the audi warranty I had when the problem originally occurred the previous year have covered this, a phone call back confirmed that it would. I then explained the car had been in with that fault 3 times, all documented, and due to the fact they could not diagnose the problem then, I was not willing to stand any costs now they had found the fault and my warranty had expired. An early Christmas present to me they agreed and stood the full cost, so a big thank you to Audi Stockport.

Did a new starter sort out this problem?

I've just replaced my clutch this weekend and the cold and snow is taking its toll. This morning it took me 10 mins to get the darn thing running.... just makes a "click" noise when pushing down the "start" button. Sounds like the starter is trying to engage but gives up. Pain

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Really is worth double checking the battery first - by far the cheapest and easiest option to fix before going for a new starter.

Modern starters won't allow you to turn the engine over with insufficient charge - the click you hear is the starter solenoid disengaging and cutting the starter motor out. 9 times out of ten in icy conditions this is battery charge related. The cold weather simply slows down the checmical reaction in the battery preventing the stored charge (which is still in the battery... it's not gone flat) from being transmitted with sufficient amps. you can sometimes put a voltmeter on the battery and see a good charge volatage but this doesn't tell you the amps and this is what you need when starting.

As for the warranty bit above - it's pretty standard (possibily even part of the warranty/insurance legal side) that problems reported during the warranty period that are later rectified outside warranty are covered. The only grey area is the time when it fails. I would say a constant repeating issue is a done deal however if you say "my clutch has gone" and then 2 years it gets replaced then well... I wouldn't reckon your chances

[RS4ABM]

Really is worth double checking the battery first - by far the cheapest and easiest option to fix before going for a new starter.

Modern starters won't allow you to turn the engine over with insufficient charge - the click you hear is the starter solenoid disengaging and cutting the starter motor out. 9 times out of ten in icy conditions this is battery charge related. The cold weather simply slows down the checmical reaction in the battery preventing the stored charge (which is still in the battery... it's not gone flat) from being transmitted with sufficient amps. you can sometimes put a voltmeter on the battery and see a good charge volatage but this doesn't tell you the amps and this is what you need when starting.)

Once it engages it has no trouble starting at all, Would it not charge its self once running?
I'm going to stick a charger on it all night tonight though to make sure

[adsgreen]

Yes it'll charge but a cold cranking take at least 30 mins+ to restore. Longer if you have lights on.

[Jonah]

I've not posted the results so far due to my broadband been down since before Christmas, all sorted now.

So, audi had the car back and informed me it needed a new starter motor, one had been ordered and audi would stand 70% of the cost under goodwill. I told them that was good of them, however, would the audi warranty I had when the problem originally occurred the previous year have covered this, a phone call back confirmed that it would. I then explained the car had been in with that fault 3 times, all documented, and due to the fact they could not diagnose the problem then, I was not willing to stand any costs now they had found the fault and my warranty had expired. An early Christmas present to me they agreed and stood the full cost, so a big thank you to Audi Stockport.

Did a new starter sort out this problem?

I've just replaced my clutch this weekend and the cold and snow is taking its toll. This morning it took me 10 mins to get the darn thing running.... just makes a "click" noise when pushing down the "start" button. Sounds like the starter is trying to engage but gives up. Pain

It sure did and mine had the exact symptoms that yours has, sounds like an expensive month.