Starter removal on a 1.8T

[snowboarderp]

So im still having a starting issues with my 99 a4, 1.8t /w tiptronic. I replaced my ignition switch already with no luck.So my second culprit is gonna be the starter. Ive been reading around on the forums about the starter removal but it seems all the write ups are for the v6 2.8L which says that the starter is located right behind the alternator. How ever on mine the starters on the passenger side, and the alternator is on the driver side. So it doesn't quite match up. Anyway what I'm really asking here is, Does anyone know how to get the starter out on the 1.8 engines? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[Kyle H]

two bolts on the passenger side of the transmission. It pokes into the tranny housing from the front side. You'll be able to see it when you get down there... make sure you disconnect the battery ground first though.

[biketsai]

Make sure you connect the wires back into the right spots!

[walky_talky20]

What are your problems, exactly? Have you tested the voltage to the starter solenoid wire?

It could simply be too much resistance in the solenoid wire (it is quite small) or too much corrosion on its connection at the starter. Could also be a poor ground to the starter case (lousy engine ground). There is also a relay (park/neutral position relay), the multifunction range switch, and even the central locking module plays a part in the starting circuit. I would recommend you test at the starter to see what you get. If you get good power, ground, and solenoid signal while attempting to crank, then the starter is at fault. Otherwise you trace it back to the real problem. The circuit isn't very complicated, it should be simple to isolate the problem.

EDIT: PM me if you need a diagram.

[Altech75]

Make sure you connect the wires back into the right spots!

You made me chuckle.

[snowboarderp]

Well the problem im having is that when i turn the key, all the lights and everything turns on but when i go to start the car i get nothing. No cranking at all. I've replaced the ignition switch already but i guess that didnt fix the problem. I want to test the relay but i have no idea which one it is. I've tried reading up on mitchell on demand as well as where others have mention it to be, but the relay they say is the park/neutral relay isnt even in the spot its supposed to be in. Ive tried looking up the actual relay it is on parts websites, but none of the relays match up to the one they have pictured. I would rather troubleshoot rather then replacing parts i dont need to, but i cant find this relay. Maybe the picture i put up can help me out.


sorry for the bad quality of the pic, But its the relay panel located by the driver side floor

[walky_talky20]

You probably aren't finding it in Mitchell if you look under 99 A4. From what I see, you actually have a 99.5 A4. You will need to look at the documents for a 2000 to get accurate component locations. These should be a closer match:




Can you tell what position the relay above the large brown washer relay is in? It looks like position 12 or 13. I believe the positions are embossed on the carrier. It would also appear that perhaps the fog lamp, horn, and p/n position relays may be interchangeable. Perhaps something to try. Either way, it is generally advisable to start the diagnostics at the source of the problem (starter) and work your way backwards. But doing tests at the relay location is fine as well. After all, it is a bit easier to get at with a meter. Just know what you are looking for.

[snowboarderp]

See, your diagram is telling me the same thing. That the number 13 spot is the Park/neutral relay. However when i looked on the carrier, the number 13 spot did not have a relay in it. So i am once again lost. How would i test the starter. i guess i would have to take it out first cause i cant really access the wire i need which is at the solenoid. i can only see the one wire that is connected directly from the battery.

[walky_talky20]

I'll bet it is the relay in the number 12 spot then. It wouldn't be hard to identify, it will be the relay that clicks when you turn the key to "start". You can put your hand on the backs of the relays to feel them click. If you don't have one that clicks (which might be your problem here), then you have to get a bit more creative. You can pull that relay and use a test light to see if the coil ground signal switches with the shifter (should be ground in P or N only). Power supply and coil + should switch with key "start" position. Either of those things should positively identify it as the p/n position relay relocation.

Maybe your starter is a little different, but on mine the solenoid wire was pretty accessible with the car on a lift, anyway. I was dealing with my starter wiring because I noticed both wires going to it were heavily corroded and the insulation was deteriorating. The large wire to the alternator was almost ready to short out (!) on the tranny case. While repairing that I noticed the small solenoid wire had some similar damage as well. I'm glad I caught it when I did, as those large wires are completely unfused, and a faulty solenoid wire could have left me stranded somewhere. Can't pop the clutch to start a tiptronic, lol.

EDIT: Just checked my Bentley. It says position 13 in the 13-way relay carrier just as above. The only exception is the earlier cars that have more terminals in the micro central electric. They have the p/n position relay in position 4 of central electric and the fuel pump in position 6. This is obviously not your case, as you have the wiper/washer relay in position 5 and 6. I'm betting it is the relay just above the wiper relay (large brown one that is double parked, there).

[2001A4QUATTRO]

There is a power wire (large) that goes to the starter. There is another wire (small) that goes to the solenoid to activate it. You can test the big wire for power, also if you are not scared you can take a piece of insulated wire and touch one end to the large and one end to the small, that should start it. Make sure the key is all the way on though. I think you should do some more research into why it is not starting first though. Does it start in N? I am not sure if audi's use the brake stop switch to allow starrting or have another switch on the brake pedal, do those work? If you keep on replacing parts without diagnosing the issue you will be out of $$$ very fast.. GL

[snowboarderp]

OK, well, the first time this problem occurred i tried starting it in neutral and it would not start. I just tried a few minutes ago to start it in neutral and it started up fine. so i guess the starter is still fine. I then tried starting it in park but it would not start. After several start ups in neutral, i tried starting it one more time in park but this time it worked. so i don't know what i did but its working now. i did find out that the relay just above the big brown one in the pic with "204" stamped on it is the p/n relay as i felt it click when i turned the car on. my guess is that it could be the park/neutral switch maybe thats acting up?

[walky_talky20]

my guess is that it could be the park/neutral switch maybe thats acting up?

Sounds possible. It may just be some corrosion in the connector. The Neutral Safety Switch (Multi-Function Range Switch) connector is mounted very close to the road surface and is susceptible to water and corrosion from road grime. You might try unplugging the connector and using some electronic terminal cleaner on it, especially if you find green stuff on the contacts. Else, the problem may be inside the switch.

You can always just bypass the P/N switch altogether. Just replace the relay with a jumper wire and problem solved. The ignition switch will signal the starter solenoid directly.

[snowboarderp]

Ok so the car is working and starting up fine now. However when I start it up now it idles too low as if it's goin to die. While driving it, everytime the car downshifts from 2nd to 1st it idles down really low and almost dies on me. Anyone have a clue as to what that could be?