My A3 has died - Any ideas

pedderz · 01-10-2007, 05:07 AM

Hello
I went to drive my car yesterday, A3 1.6 sport 1997, and it wouldn't start. I had been driving it during the day without any problems.
All the lights work and the alarm etc but when you turn the key nothing happens.

When I say nothing i mean nothing, no turnover, no noise just a click. The battery light does stay on but if it was the battery surely none of the electrics would work??

I managed to get someone to tow me towards home, when doing so the car started but when i got home i turned the car off and again it wouldn't start.

Any ideas, obviously i will take it to a garage but just though i would see if anyone knew what the issue was?? also it might help me in that the garage can't rip me off then!! Starter motor maybe or could it be something to do with electrics?

Thanks

**T-sport** · 01-10-2007, 12:34 PM

Sounds like the battery has gone...

They can still give out enough amps for a while to run the electrics but when you need to turn the engine over they take a lot more and if you got dead cells then not enough juice available to kick over...

If in doubt pop into a local garage who should put a volt meter on it free of charge to test it ....

squashbear · 01-11-2007, 02:25 AM

Yep, I'm also going with a "flat" battery. Start with the simplest possible option!

pedderz · 01-11-2007, 01:17 PM

thanks, i will let you know. Lets hope it is as simple as that
Cheers

pedderz · 01-19-2007, 12:08 PM

just to give you an update.......it was the starter motor! now replaced and all is well!

Chris Roach · 01-21-2007, 05:44 PM

I Cant believe this, I read this thread 3 days ago and today this happens to me!

Got a jump start and got it home so I think its the battery, gotta take the morning off work tomorrow to get it sorted.

I gave guy a jump the other day and he sparked the cables the stupid f**ker so maybe that has something to do with it. Should have told him to do one!

pedderz · 01-22-2007, 06:30 AM

not good!!
Apparently the best way to tell if its the battery or the start motor if this happens to you is, turn the key to the on position and then press anything electrical i.e. the horn lights etc. If is the battery then there will not be enough pwer to sound the horn etc. If it all works then it could eb the starter motor.

Hope it turns out alright

P887PLX · 01-24-2007, 11:07 AM

May I ask how much the starter motor cost to replace???

pedderz · 01-25-2007, 04:56 AM

you may. I had it done by a garage owned by someone i know (non-audi garage), for the part and fitting he charged me £120. Sorry not sure of the split for labour and the part or anything.

01-10-2007, 05:07 AM	#1 (permalink)
pedderz Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: England, South East Posts: 39 Gallery: (0)	My A3 has died - Any ideas Hello I went to drive my car yesterday, A3 1.6 sport 1997, and it wouldn't start. I had been driving it during the day without any problems. All the lights work and the alarm etc but when you turn the key nothing happens. When I say nothing i mean nothing, no turnover, no noise just a click. The battery light does stay on but if it was the battery surely none of the electrics would work?? I managed to get someone to tow me towards home, when doing so the car started but when i got home i turned the car off and again it wouldn't start. Any ideas, obviously i will take it to a garage but just though i would see if anyone knew what the issue was?? also it might help me in that the garage can't rip me off then!! Starter motor maybe or could it be something to do with electrics? Thanks

01-10-2007, 12:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
T-sport Super Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Devon,uk Posts: 1,568 Gallery: (0)	Sounds like the battery has gone... They can still give out enough amps for a while to run the electrics but when you need to turn the engine over they take a lot more and if you got dead cells then not enough juice available to kick over... If in doubt pop into a local garage who should put a volt meter on it free of charge to test it .... __________________ 2002 1.8 T Avant 18" TT Quattro Replicas Forge Motorsport DV

01-21-2007, 05:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
Chris Roach Newbie Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Northolt, London Posts: 22 Gallery: (0)	I Cant believe this, I read this thread 3 days ago and today this happens to me! Got a jump start and got it home so I think its the battery, gotta take the morning off work tomorrow to get it sorted. I gave guy a jump the other day and he sparked the cables the stupid f*ker so maybe that has something to do with it. Should have told him to do one! Last edited by T-sport : 01-24-2007 at 02:28 PM.*

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01-11-2007, 02:25 AM	#3 (permalink)
squashbear Newbie Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Posts: 17 Gallery: (0)	Yep, I'm also going with a "flat" battery. Start with the simplest possible option!

01-11-2007, 01:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
pedderz Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: England, South East Posts: 39 Gallery: (0)	thanks, i will let you know. Lets hope it is as simple as that Cheers

01-19-2007, 12:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
pedderz Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: England, South East Posts: 39 Gallery: (0)	just to give you an update.......it was the starter motor! now replaced and all is well!

01-22-2007, 06:30 AM	#7 (permalink)
pedderz Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: England, South East Posts: 39 Gallery: (0)	not good!! Apparently the best way to tell if its the battery or the start motor if this happens to you is, turn the key to the on position and then press anything electrical i.e. the horn lights etc. If is the battery then there will not be enough pwer to sound the horn etc. If it all works then it could eb the starter motor. Hope it turns out alright

01-24-2007, 11:07 AM	#8 (permalink)
P887PLX Newbie Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 15 Gallery: (0)	May I ask how much the starter motor cost to replace???

01-25-2007, 04:56 AM	#9 (permalink)
pedderz Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: England, South East Posts: 39 Gallery: (0)	you may. I had it done by a garage owned by someone i know (non-audi garage), for the part and fitting he charged me £120. Sorry not sure of the split for labour and the part or anything.

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