5000TQ Avant Starting Problems

[Ben Swann]

Stephen,

Although the symptoms you describe may indeed spell impending doom for the starter, you
may want to check a few things first prior to replacement and 
make a few "fixes".

** Work best performed on ramps, car jacked up and using stands, or on lift if
available.
*** Disconnect battery ground prior to performing the work.

1a..  Remove Positive wires from starter from Alternator/battery.  Inspect, clean
surface with emory and/or repair/replace ring terminal as necessary  Also inspect and
clean charge wire on alternator.
1.b. Clean battery terminals and ring terminals at chassis ground strap - under seat.
These are likely corroded due to age and likely missing battery vent tube - replace this
if not correctly installed!

2.  Inspect the solenoid wire.  This wire is almost always disintegrated and needs at
very least a new connector crimped on.  Most of the times I have found sufficient to cut
back about 15" and splice in new wire.  Sometimes a new wire needs to be run back to the
fusebox.  I also tend to Y in a separate wire to the solenoid wire and run up to the
battery jump post, but not connected.  This becomes a test/remote start wire - can be
used to turn engine over to do things like compression testing.

3. Batteries, even relatively new, do not get optimum charge level from the alternator
under most types of driving.  It is good to make a routing habit of overnight trickle
charging a lead acid battery.  This will help maintain good charge level and longevity
of the battery.  So yes - the battery could be weak, and  with the cold weather and bad
wiring, even a good starter would have a problem.

4.  Plan to replace the starter. It is giving typical symptoms of upcoming failure.  The
job is fairly easy.  Two bolts using 19mm, 17mm and 13mm wrenches.

HTH.

Ben

[Date: Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:20:23 -0700
From: Stephen Sherman <spsherm at msn.com>
Subject: 5000TQ Avant Starting Problems
To: quattro at audifans.com
Message-ID: <BLU0-SMTP46B017700EB73835684FAFA78D0 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

We have an old, trusted (at least until now) 87 Avant turbo wagon that still get regular
use as a snow car. It has been running well until recently, when the temps went below 0F
and the starter began having problems.

The symptoms are that at cold temps (even with a charged battery) the starter will only
crank the engine for a few seconds, then it disengages from the flywheel. Unfortunately
a sec or two is not enough to start the engine in these cold conditions. At warmer temps
(say above 10F) it cranks and starts just fine. The length of time the starter stays
engaged with the flywheel does down with every attempt, as the battery drains.

I have a few questions, before I start crawling around in the snow to pull the starter:

1. Since this seems to be battery charge related, what is the chance that a new Battery
sould solve it (current battery is ~2 years old)? Any way to tell short of just getting
a new one?

2. I've seen several posts about lubing the starter bendix/solenoid mechanism. Seems
like it couldn't hurt, but can I do this effectively with the starter still installed?
Is there a port or bolt hole that will allow some WD40 or the like to get where it needs
to go, and not end up on the flywheel and clutch?  If so, which one is it and where is
that located?

3. Other suggestions?

TIA]