OMGosh it's one thing after another this month !!!

[TooManyAudis at aol.com]

Well it seems it is the starter .... I took it to Napa and they  said 
the batter was "okay" not great but adequate.

I then took it to  AutoZone to have codes run and it seems the 
connector for their machine is  "newer" than mine and they couldn't 
read it.

We tried jumping it when  it wouldn't start and no go, so it isn't the 
battery.

It doesn't seem to  act like the ignition switch, and it starts easier 
when cold, so I am  assuming starter.   And it has been gradually 
getting  worse.

So I'll have to try to find a rebuilt and then figure out how to  
change it .... couldn't be a worse time, we are north of Flagstaff 
now  in Doney Park and the wind is horrible ..... snow drifts up to my 
waist and  in town it is melting.     We don't have a garage to work 
in  unless I can find one and it feels bitter cold to work on a car 
outside  now.

When it rains it pours.

Fay
 
__________________________
 
Having had a bit of experience with the A6, the scenario is usually this --  
Bad ignition switch first, then bad starter.  The ignition switch breaks,  
which results in the key not going to the 'run' position.  power remains to  the 
starter, causing it to continue running and greatly shortening its  lifespan.  
with the automatic, power to the starter cuts off when the car  is in gear, 
so many people notice this horrible grinding sound in park or  neutral that 
mysteriously goes away in gear...
 
If it didn't happen to you, it may have happened to the previous  owner.  
 
That's not always the failure mode, especially for an aftermarket ignition  
switch.  Sometimes the switches act intermittently.  Turn the key  several 
times and eventually it works, followed by days or more of working on  the first 
turn.  Gradually, the key works fewer and fewer times until it no  longer works 
at all.  Gives very similar symptoms as a failed starter -- no  sound at all 
when key turned to 'start' position.  Can be checked by seeing  if the starter 
gets power.
 
on my A6, it was a combination of the two.  Bad ignition switch  coupled with 
a bad starter.  Try figuring that one out when you're all set  to buy the car 
for cheap because the college student who got the car from her  folks didn't 
know a thing about maintenance.  Did I mention it was raining  while this was 
going on.  Like in pretty much of a down pour.  
 
Anyway, I switched in the ignition switch from my 80q and the car started  
right up.  took it for a test drive and turned the car off to do the  paperwork. 
 Got in to drive away and no start.  switched back to the  old ignition 
switch, and no start.  Finally, got under the car and gave the  starter a whack.  
Contact, ignition and drove the car home.  No  problem, thought I, who spent 
years and years working on half a dozen I4 and I5  audi motors.  Removing a 
starter takes like 15 minutes.
 
However, on the V6, the starter is behind the alternator, which must come  
out for this job.  The alternator is placed in such a position that, well,  it's 
like those games with the bendy steel rods that the Amish put together, the  
kind where there's only one solution, and it takes you 12 freakin' hours to 
find  that solution...  it's a lot like that.  Removing the alternator would  be 
10 times easier if you remove one of the coolant hoses first, but who the  
hell wants to drain coolant to get to an alternator??  And, don't get me  
started on the compressor location... it took me days to do that one...
 
The starter is held on by two bolts, one you can see, and one you can  not.  
one goes in on  the front side of the starter, and the other is  accessed from 
the opposite side.  I could have saved an hour if someone had  told me that.
 
So, the moral of the story is....  Check for voltage to the starter  when the 
car is cranked.  If no voltage is detected, replace the ignition  switch and 
thank the lord above for your good fortune.  If you get voltage  and no 
movement on the starter, check your connections.  clean positive  leads, grounds, 
anything you can find.  Then, try starting it again.   If this doesn't help, try 
giving the starter a whack (well, more of a  tap).  Sure, its not 
recommended, but at this point, who cares?   you're gonna need to replace it anyway.
 
If you need pictures, try the C4 forum faq on Audiworld.  It's helped  me out 
numerous times.
 
-- Tom
88 80q (listed in the Classifieds)
95 A6q (open to generous offers)
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