a4 starting problems

[lazzaman]

hi all
at last i seem to have found somewhere that may be able to help with my fault as audi dont seem to have a clue.
i have had random starting problems for the last couple of months on my 2000 t sport .the car somtimes refuses to start on the first turn of the key and will then spluter into life on the second or third turn.
i have also got a temp gauge fault at the moment where the temp gauge will rise and fall between cold and halfway as if the sensor is breaking down .
could it be that these problems are related and the ecu thinks the engine is colder than it actually is and operates the coldstart valve.?????????

this is driving me mad as well as being slightly embarsing when im winding the starter over and over on a car that should start on the button.

hope someone can help

dazza

 

[lazzaman]

thanks for the help .i will try changing that first /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/groovy.gif

 

[lazzaman]

yeah ..had audi check for faults at the last service but they came up with nothing.
seems to have got worse since then though.
i dread starting it now i case it gives up alltogether,not what you want from a four year old car.

 

[lazzaman]

dont know if this is the same problem ,mine doesn't start then cut out with a flashing imoboliser it just wont start and when it does it stinks of fuel ,its also a late facelift model.
i will take the coulum shroud off tomorrow and take a look .what excactly am i looking for??????

 

[teknobod]

I'd definitely change the coolant temp sensor. It is a known problem on the 1.8T engines and only costs about £12 from German and Swedish. (The fact that the temp guage is playing up also points to this component)

Andy

 

[lazzaman]

gonna go to german and swedish tomorrow ,so fingers crossed

 

[lazzaman]

still havent got round to changing the sensor and the fecking things got worse.its now spluttering and missing slighly when it starts ,im kinda hpoing it packs up alltogether so at least i can pinpoint the fault.

 

[lazzaman]

changed the coolant sensor on monday and its been good as gold all week .
thanks to all those of you who posted.
nice one /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/groovy.gif

 

[lazzaman]

[ QUOTE ]
Cyberdude said:
Can anyone tell me where the coolant sensor is located.


[/ QUOTE ]
its at the back of the head in a plastic housing held in place by a little horse shoe shaped clip.should be black or blue in colour.

 

[cyberdude]

Thanks. I'll get one next week and see if it fixes my problem.

 

[bradmcw]

I had a starting problem where the car would not start and the immobaoliser light would flash. Taking the key out of the ignition and reinserting would solve the problem. Audi told me it was the coil in the ignition which "talks" to the chip in the key that was faulty and that I should replace the ignition. I got another dealer to give a second opinion, they simply moved some wires around the ignition from close to the key to further back and fixed the problem at a fraction of the cost. I assume it must be noise which creates interference or something????

 

[cyberdude]

Hi can anyone give me a part number for the coolant sensor on a 1.8 NA engine. I just t be sure I am armed with it when I go to the dealer here in Portugal. 2000 model A4.

Also, if anyone can paste a quick How-To for changing it the sensor that would be great. I assume it is fairly easy, but just want to be sure there is no unexpected surprises. Thanks.

 

[Lowride]

I don`t know if I hav the exact same problem as you guys but it is similar..

Most of the time my A4 1.8i will start fine first time but then other times it will start and then cut out one second later. I find that if I giv it a good rev at the same time as turning the key I don`t get the problem but I shouldn`t hav to start it like this

It does it when the engine is hot and cold, it makes no difference. I sent it into a local VW/Audi specialist called BRM in Leamington and it has been better but its slowly getting worse

I work at Mercedes and had a chat with the master technician, he has a mate who works for Audi but not locally, his mate seemed to think it would be down to either:

Throttle potential-ometer or the Temp sender

Is the coolant sensor the same thing as the temp sender?

I know nothin about engines, obviously!

 

[docurley]

No the coolant switch is different it feeds the ECU with what temp the engines running at and then allows the correct fuel to be added. If it is faulty or in most cases playing up it will try and run rich or lean. Basically it gives the info for your auto choke to open and close.

I had the same prob with my 2.8 but it also affected the running of the car like jerking some times or just stalling when at a standstill and then not start. Since replacing mine it’s been ok. £20 from Audi and get the O" ring to go with it.

All you need do is remove the clip fitted in the side by pulling it out remove coolant switch and old O" ring seal and reverse the process. 20min job tops.