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Min · Posted: Thu May 08, 2003 6:08 pm Post subject: Intermittent Starting problem

my car seems to have developed a intermittent starting problem. what happens is you turn the key .. all the lights come on, everything has power. but the starter doesn't do anything, no sound, no cranking at all. if you leave it for awhile it cranks over as per usual. any ideas? .. battery voltage seems good, alternator seems good as well.

Min

Smoothie · Posted: Thu May 08, 2003 11:51 pm Post subject:

If it's not the ignition switch, it could be the gunked-up solenoid problem I've had once or twice a year for the past several years. It's not too bad in that a cleaning will fix it. You'd have to remove the starter, then the solenoid, and clean the steel plunger that moves the starter gear in-out as well as the opening where the plunger fits in the solenoid.
If you get a click, but no start, that's a little worse - it would mean the ignition switch is good and the solenoid plunger is not gunked-up, but the elect contacts inside the solenoid are ruined - then you'd need a new solenoid.
Other possibilities would be a problem in the wiring to the starter or the starter motor itself, but in my case it's always just been a solenoid problem.
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"..it's made in Germany. You know the Germans always make good stuff."

'82 924T, US version, dark green metallic, 5 speed Audi 016G gearbox

jpab924 · Posted: Fri May 09, 2003 12:33 am Post subject:

Using a dvom check power at the large black terminal from the battery to the starter at the starter #30. You should have batt. voltage. Now with the ign. switch on, check voltage at the smaller black wire #16 on the starter. You should have battery voltage there with the key on. Now with an assistant to help you, check power at the red/black wire #50 on the starter while cranking. You should have power only when cranking. If all the above check out ok follow smoothies advice and check the solenoid.

CMXXXI · Joined: 05 Nov 2002 Posts: 1939 Location: Vicksburg, MS

First thing, check all wires connected to the starter, and make sure the starter itself is bolted on tightly. I experienced similar problems after reassembling my car, and it turned out that I hadn't tightened the starter mounting bolts really well. All the contacts and wires were clean and tight, but the mount bolts had loosened up after about a week's worth of cranking & starting while diagnosing other issues. Torqued those bolts down, re-seating the starter itself and I've not had a problem since.
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'79 Eurospec 931

Rob O · Joined: 26 Nov 2002 Posts: 86 Location: Oak Ridge, NJ

Just saved myself $100 thanks to Smoothie's suggestion - Thanks.

Every time the temp dipped below 60 degrees F, I would need to twist the key 10 - 15 times before the car would turn over. Once the car was warm, it would start immediately. I pulled the starter last weekend and cleaned the solenoid plunger and bore with fine steel wool. Put it all back together and now the car starts first time every time. Probably my imagination but she even seems to turn over faster now (I know this does not make sense). Any way, it's good to know the car will start when I need it.
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'81 Weissach Ed. (gettin' better)