audi will not start, wont even crank, is it the starter? or something else

1,190

Asked by justinvowles4111 Mar 27, 2014 at 10:06 PM about the 2004 Audi A4 1.8T quattro Sedan AWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

when turning to the on position everything lights up but the car wont even try to crank.
I dont think its the battery because the head lights still work, i dont know what else it
would be besides something with the starter or solenoid, can anyone help me with this?

81 Answers

1,190

fuel pump is going when in the on position, spark plugs are not burnt on the tips, would a bad solenoid make this problem or is it definatley a starter problem? the batterey is pretty much brand new and we tested it, its putting out 12v.

75 people found this helpful.
45,305

try crawling under the car and checking the connect point between the solenoid and the starter body my wire had rotted off there before once. which resulted in my getting a new starter this is most likely your culprit You can do the starter yourself but its a big job it requires there passenger side engine mount to be removed as well as the alternator. and so that you know there is one bolt in from the front and one bolt in from the back. i spent a day trying to figure that out when i changed mine thinking it was a broken bolt.

92 people found this helpful.
1,190

Thankyou that wire was no good and we replaced the starter the car is running strong once again

44 people found this helpful.
1,200

Does anyone have a pic or image of the "connect point between the solenoid and the starter body"? Thanks for sharing your experiences! -Myke 2012 S5, V8...won't crank.

55 people found this helpful.
45,305

this little wire has a tendancy in the older modals to rot off cause the starter to fail. most modals of vw's and audis from 1996 - 2005 have the issue over time.

39 people found this helpful.
1,200

Thanks! I will check today after work, and post the outcome...

16 people found this helpful.
1,200

Wire is good, replaced impulse sender...no change still. I did check the fuse that and and found it had blown, so I changes it and just as I'm starting the car (2012 S5 v8), I heard the new fuse blow. Should I consider the fuel filter and fuel pump? Which fuel pump...how many fuel pumps are there? Any help is gratefully received, and pics would help. I'm a champion googler, but I'm having a tough time finding what I need.

32 people found this helpful.
45,305

ok so which fuse exactly was blown ? find out what its for and you may find your problem. it sounds like what ever is blowing the fuse when you try to start is whats causing the issue.

16 people found this helpful.
1,200

It's the fuel pump fuse.....but why is it blowing? Where to start? Other fuses? Wires? Relay? Fuel pump(s)? How many fuel pumps? One in tank? Two under hood?

17 people found this helpful.
45,305

hehe well for this modal there is only one fuel pump. A good place to start is to inspect the wires that lead to the fuel tank for damage. If its blowing the fuse its quit likely there is a break that is shorting some where. it is possible it could be the pump that causing the short but i would trace wires first. Also i would dig threw the main wiring harness under the dash threw the fire wall. Some times you can get a wire that cracks open down there.

22 people found this helpful.
330

Follow the KISS principle: Keep It Simple Stupid. Before you go tearing into the wiring harness that hasn't given you any indication of problems at this point, pop the connector off of the fuel pump/sending unit and check for any voltage drop on the harness side and resistance across the fuel pump side. It's probably going to be the pump. (For every 21 problems like this, it's been 20 fuel pumps and 1 wiring issue.) Always start with the quickest test that will yield the most information. If the pump and voltage check out, I would use an in-line circuit breaker in place of the fuse for diagnostics so you're not throwing 100 fuses away or wasting time replacing the fuse every time it blows.

33 people found this helpful.
670

2004 Audi 2.7 L twin turbo all road won't start or crank...but lights come on ... ran through a Lil water made it home it died now won't start ... HELP

67 people found this helpful.
160

I have 07 audi a4 2.0t in the cluster doesn't show the check engine light and some times show the light and start right away what could be the problem can any one help me

16 people found this helpful.
45,305

if the engine light comes on you likely have an issue that an obd2 reader can grab and tell you. Its likely due to a miss fire. Replace your plugs if they have not been replaced in over 60,000km and it shouldnt come back.

7 people found this helpful.
290

Audi 2.0 TDI B7. 2005 Turn ignition on I have lights radio etc but turn the key to fire engine all I get is a single click then my clocks reset. Tried new battery but still same issue. Any ideas?

29 people found this helpful.
45,305

start checking your grounds and terminals. Make sure they are clean use a wire brush to clean the terminals remove the grounds clean them with the wire brush and put them back on. if the terminals are not the issue then you likely have a short some where the older cars had alot of wiring issues. best way to check things out is go to your starter and start tracing the wires. also check the starter its possible it is dead or had a line rot off of it

19 people found this helpful.
150

I have Audi a4 B7 Quattro 2007 It starts sometimes perfectly, but there are days it won't start?!Connected computer and it says the fuel pump problem. change the fuel pump it started and worked for 10min and then had the same problem? check all the fuses they are all fine... the computer gives me an error code P3073 any information will help what do I do from there is there a comment problem with the fuel pump?

15 people found this helpful.
45,305

check out this link it should help http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/P3073/012403

18 people found this helpful.
160

Hi, My 2009 Q7 3.0 tdi wont start or crank, instrument cluster is off. It was without a battery for about a year. Bought new battery and it started once only since. Key unlocks stearing but wont activate ignition or cluster, any suggestions?

16 people found this helpful.
45,305

perhaps try making sure the key is coded to the car still.

11 people found this helpful.
400

I have a 2003 A4 Quattro 1.8T I replaced my battery last night and this morning it won't crank. I'm getting all my dash signals what's the first think I need to do from here someone please help

28 people found this helpful.
45,305

either your latch is stuck or the cable is broke My 2013 i had to hold the pop switch and reach around and bang my fist on the hood to make it pop up or get some one to pull it up while i held the pop latch in the car.

9 people found this helpful.
170

Changed starter out still won’t turn on.. any ideas

17 people found this helpful.
80

Hi any help please I have Audi a3 2.0t doesn't wanna start can any one tells me the symptoms of high pressure pump

8 people found this helpful.
100

I got the hood open. Bought a replacement battery. First day it cranked. Second day nothing key went all the way to the dash. Apparently I have to register my battery. But if my alternator is bad would it drain that battery like that overnight? And what's the easiest way to get the battery registered if I can't drive it anywhere like that?

10 people found this helpful.
45,305

i don't understand the registering a battery issue.. battery is simply plug and play. If the alternator is not wokring it will only kill the battery during running. other wise you have a power leak some where and need to find it.

6 people found this helpful.
160

My 2006 A4 Audi doesn't wanna start,everything is on jus the engine that doesn't turn on.It gives funny sound like something is been locked.

16 people found this helpful.
45,305

does it sound like a loud clicking noise? that would indicate a dead battery

10 people found this helpful.
140

My Audi won’t start I was driving home went in the house came out the car had died I crunk it back up it made a funny noise So I turn car off out of suspicion and it never crunk again I replaced battery got alternator checked and added new spark plugs why won’t it start help me out

14 people found this helpful.
45,305

whats the modal, year and how many kilometers does the car have and when was the last time the timing system was serviced? I am guessing your timing belt may have slipped if its the older modals with the belt. anything over 90,000km and you are rolling the dice on this on the chain driven ones its anything over roughly 130,000km

5 people found this helpful.
80

Hello deathjam4, my 2008 Audi car won’t start at all. The key is not turning at all. I tried to horn but didn’t work so I thought it was battery problem. I replaced the battery but still nothing. The key just doesn’t turn but when I put it in and click the radio button it works. Also doors won’t lock but it opens with the remote. Please help!!!!!!

8 people found this helpful.
100

MY 2004 AUDI A4 3.0 V6 Has been sitting for about 7 months , I changed out the battery and it cranked right up, Hours later I went to crank it, Nothing Happened at all, Just my lights, radio, everything else Lit Up but NO ENGINE PLAY whatsoever, Ive recently changed the fuel pump before the 7 Month period of sitting, as well as the starter, could there be anything I don't know yet?

10 people found this helpful.
45,305

check your grounds and check for spark. try hooking up a battery charger that has start function on it and see if it starts as that will elimnate the battery but I would say check the crank case hoses one is likely busted or cracked.

8 people found this helpful.
90

My Audi 07 A4 2.0T Quattro I just picked up a week ago drove fine for a week and still does once it starts but is having issues starting , red through most of these comments and have replaced the starter but still no luck, car just passed emissions so can’t be a fuel pump and there is no check engine light indicating any issues, battery and terminals also look fine, any suggestions please?

9 people found this helpful.
45,305

start tracing grounding wires. also have you checked the batterys cranking amps ? and what voltage does the car idle at and sit at when not on. also what is the voltage while its cranking does it drop bellow 10.5 volts ? this would make it struggle to start so would a weak ground wire on the frame.

4 people found this helpful.
180

I have a Audi a4 2.8 ive replaced the motor with an 2.6 due to old motor had a knock ever since I did that my car won't start mechanic told me my ECU box got wet and I had it fixed replaced the module as well car still won't start car don't have any spark i really don't know what els to do

10 people found this helpful.
45,305

I would hate to tell you but my 2.8L had a knock as well its just the valve slap from a broken in engine. Some additive during oil changes quieted that down in mine. I am guessing the 2.6 you purchased either came from a newer or older car. When you do an engine swap it needs to be the same code as the one in your trunk in the donut hole. YOur issue is likely that the ecu is for a 2.8L and you now have a 2.6L also your dash is likely going to be an issue as well as it preprogramed for a 2.8L as well.

2 people found this helpful.
180

So what r u saying now that my car will never start again please advise what to do

6 people found this helpful.
30

Hi, it was raining and the car stated that a hand brake problem. Hand brake at the moment is not working, the car does not even switch on, the battery is new. I have no Idea what could be the problem, Please help

3 people found this helpful.
10

im geting 12 volts to my grounds on the frame when just the positive cable is hooked up to the battery????

1 people found this helpful.
45,305

sorry for the long replie donna but yes it likely will not start cause it needs the proper computers. always try to match the codes in the trunk other wise you will run into issues. If all the old engine had was a knock i would put it back in knocks are normal for these cars. have the engine decarboned and new valves and cams put in and it would be like new again

5 people found this helpful.
20

My Audi Q.4 2.0 won’t start out of nowhere ??? The radio acts like it wants to turn on but it turns right off , the heater as well , I don’t know what’s wrong???

2 people found this helpful.
130

I have a problem with my 2006 audi a4 2.0t MT... It runs fine, everything works when i push start the car. All the lights comes on but when I turn the key to start the motor, it won’t crank. Last week, i push start the car to bring it in my garage (45 min drive). I turned off the car. I decided to restart the car right away just to be sure and it started... 4-5 times. And now, 4 days later, it wont start,even with a brand new battery

9 people found this helpful.
45,305

have your starter checked out francis its likely going bad.

4 people found this helpful.
130

I checked everything, and cleand everything. I even remove the starter to clean the inside of it. The car only starts when it’s hot... Is there a starting relay in the car? Could this be a problematic piece?

4 people found this helpful.
120

My car Audi A3 2.0fsi 2007 model, not turning on after removing the battery terminal and put it back again. The dashboard is off is not turning on, I have check the Fuse everything it seems okay on the fuse side

12 people found this helpful.
100

Hey @deathjam4 I have a couple of questions if you don’t mind helping!!

2 people found this helpful.
100

Okay so I have a Audi A4 turbo 2.0 we replaced the fuel pump twice the alternator, battery and it worked for a day only stopped again it won’t crank but the lights and music comes on what can it be?

8 people found this helpful.
120

I have A5 2008 Quadro .sometimes starts ...sometimes doesnt start...all lights on good power but doesnt even crank ...it happens once a week

12 people found this helpful.
120

I have an Audi Avant 2007 B7 2Lt Tdi, problem started when I drove it and stopped somewhere then I had to wait a while for it to start again, now I have stopped again and it just won’t start, bought a new battery but still won’t start, what could the problem be

12 people found this helpful.
45,305

so when your driving its fine ? and only has problem idling ? I would check the crank case hoses and the spark plugs you likely have a bad build up and need a tune up. I would also check the fuel filter if you have never done one before.

4 people found this helpful.
70

I have audi 2001 sometimes start and sometimes wont start .changed the battery still the same ,pls help

7 people found this helpful.
40

My audi a4 2l tdi was some how get water in the fuse box in the bonet and now it switch on but not efen crank or not efen the feul pump came on please help

4 people found this helpful.
160

Hey Deathjam4, I have a 2007 Audi A4 Quattro automatic that is having some issues. Car has been running fine, its only happened once before and came back to life running fine again for about a month or so. I turn the car on, everything electrical runs, lights and all. I can even put it in gear. Except it wont crank or anything. You can hear a little quiet ticking when trying but that's it. I get a yellow check engine light as well as an EPC light. Wondering if you possibly know if it could be the spark plugs, wiring, solenoid, or starter? Thank you for your help in advance.

16 people found this helpful.
190

Hi, I have a 2012 Audi A6 and it won’t start. The radio works and headlights work, but my AC, horn and inside lights stopped working. The EPC and engine lights are on. I tried to start it and the car doesn’t do anything. Can you give me some advice?

19 people found this helpful.
40

can anyone help i have an audi a4 2006 2.0t , after running the car after about 18-20 minutes the car will not start , all the dash lights are on but its totally dead i have to leave it about 25 minutes to cool down then it starts fine , i've had the starter tested and its fine and the battery is new , also sometimes if i leave the car ticking over for some time i cant take it out park so i have to turn the engine of then it doesnt start again for another 25 minutes , some people are saying it could be the transmission neutral switch ?

4 people found this helpful.
110

Hello , I have an Audi A4 2009 , battery is fine but the car wont start when I try to start it , it just makes a wierd noise and wont start , does anyone know whats the problem ??

11 people found this helpful.
40

My 96 Audi A4 won't start the problem started a few days ago when i drove through a giant puddle caused by a flooded storm drain. the water all the way across the road was over a foot deep. immediately after i had no reverse gear, but then 2 days later is wouldn't start either. everything lights up when you put it in AC, but in start position it jill's everything and the car won't even try to start. not even the click of the solenoid. nothing. i pulled up the carpet and dried out the TCM, and i disconnected the battery and drained the memory from the computers. after that it still wouldn't start, but the next day the car started right up. after that the transmission problem was solved. reverse is working fine again. this morning was was about to head back down to the city, and suddenly it wouldn't start again i happen to have an extra ECM, so swapped them out and the car started up perfectly again. so headed south back to the city,I drove inly 40 kim's, stopped for gas and now it won't start again. have you any idea what the problem might be? sitting in a small town diner, clueless

4 people found this helpful.
60

Hi. I have an audi b6 2004 . I ran out of fuel recently and when I filled it up again it refused to start. Would turn like once and then die and now wont turn at all. On one try all the electical went off and wouldnt come on when turning on ignition. As if car completely dead. The last time i tried all car dash lights came on as normal but as soon as try to start makes a click noise and all electrical switched off. Help please

6 people found this helpful.
20

Hello Audi team, I have a problem with my a4 b7 model 2007 avant, I had problem with starter in past 4 months after exposing the car under heavy rainfall so I had to replace the starter. Again this past week we had rainfall and the same problem appeared again. If I put ignition switch ON, everything inside the car goes quit well but when cranking, nothing is happening. any clues please?? I'm just thinking how is it possible that you have to replace starter on very rain season..?? any suggestions please?? i dont want to suspect this has to deal with starter

2 people found this helpful.
50

I have a 2015 audi q7 will not start. I drove it today what i believe is just fine - no lights or sound indicators. I came home and all seemed to be working fine when I parked it in the drive way. I had to step out again about maybe 10 mins later and when i went to start my audi via the push to start, it went crazy. Motor did not turn over and all the dash lights flickering uncontrollably. I did hear a small clicking sound but every it sounded like it would turn on, all the lights would turn off for a few seconds and then wildly blink. I started to smell like a burnt smell and i began to panicked because even tho i pressed the stop button, it did not stop

5 people found this helpful.
60

I have a 2012 Audi A4 Quattro and sometimes it does not start and but most of the time it does. It goes through periods where it is fine for weeks then it hits an inconsistent period. Please help. My son is driving this car and lives in TX and I am in PA. I don't want him to be taken advantage of when he goes to the shop as he is 22. Thank you. Linda

6 people found this helpful.
20

I have 2004 b6 A4 2.5 TDI new battery, on turn over no clicking, but clock and dash fine. Last time I had this on Audi A6 1994 it was starter motor fail. One thing I have learnt from 4 audis over last 20 years, wiring, electrics, sensors are definitely the weakest link in the chain. Despite superb mechanical engineering, the electrics are notorious for having a mind of their own. On the A6 my sunroof used to open entirely at random, even when car was locked and left!

2 people found this helpful.
20

Hi, I have a 2007 Audi Q7. It had many many issues when I bought it. Long story short, one cylinder is a bit scored and causes the engine light to come on. There is a compression issue on this one cylinder, all the rest are fine, it is misfiring. Every morning when I go to start it, it is fine, but could have a bit more juice if you know what I mean. NOW, however, after driving the car for say half hour or less, leave it off for a few minutes or longer it will not start or struggles very very bad to start like the battery is flat. The battery is new and has been coded (not an official Audi battery but big enough to power the electrics) but it does not start when it has warmed up. It has warm starting issues. Any ideas what this could be. It starts when its cold with no problem just when its hot, it wont start.

2 people found this helpful.
40

Hi guys have a 2005 a3 fsi and she cranks but won't fire, I've checked all the usual suspects and come up with nothing. Any ideas?

3 people found this helpful.
30

Hi I have Audi A7 2012 3.0tdi 204hp . My car is sometimes not starting only clicks but that happening only when I’m driving for longer rides . Otherwise starting fine . Any tips what that can be ?

1 people found this helpful.
30

also sometime it’s sounds like starter motor is try to start but you can hear that like week ore so

2 people found this helpful.
20

I have Audi A4 96 model. I parked it for about 3months now. It's not starting what should I do please

2 people found this helpful.

I have audi a4 2010 it showing epc and engine sign Its not turning on the engjne is not getting ignited Please help

40

Just had this problem. Everything comes on, nothing dims but starter won't crank at all. Thought it was electronics, computer and remote, starter burnt. Checked battery-was at 11.5 volts starter not even trying to turn, changed the battery and all is well. Thinking it is feature that does not allow LOW VOLTAGE to go to the starter motor which could destroy it. Any comments???

4 people found this helpful.

Can some one tell me what did I di to ma b5 quattro I replace all doors and now the car dont crank,start lights come on its ay press the clutch to start engine but no noise or anything going can come one help

Where do I start? Lol 2012 A4 Quattro won’t start this morning after getting home last night.

10

@@deathjam4 my 2008 Audi a4 2.0t fsi is cranking but not turning over I did a oil change and replaced plugs coils and connectors

1 people found this helpful.

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