Update: A6q won't start

[Phil Payne]

> First, thanks to all that responded to my earlier post. The synopsis of the
> story so far is that the (highly acclaimed) local shop took the car, replaced
> the starter and found that the car still would not start. Recommended Audi
> service. Brought the car there and was told $85 to diagnose the problem (minimum)
> when they can get to it. Two days later was told that 5 hours were spent and
> still no problem found -- they think 'wiring' and could need 10 more hours to
> (I guess) follow the wiring to the problem.

I had one of these recently - I hope they haven't done the same to you.  Exactly the same
circumstances - car goes in for a new starter and won't start - then none of the diagnositics
produce the required result.

In my case, the garage had fitted the wrong starter motor.  The "nose" of the motor (for want
of a better word) protruded too far into the flywheel's space and the timing pins on the
flywheel broke off against it.  The garage correctly "fingered" the TDC sender as causing the
problem, then went berserk fitting several and overtesting them when the root cause was two
missing pins.

I would _strongly_ suggest that the new starter motor be demounted and the engine then turned
by hand.  You can see the pins through the starter motor aperture.

-- 
  Phil Payne
  http://www.isham-research.com
  +44 7785 302 803