Hey all,

I'm probably beating a dead horse but I hope someone can help.

2003 A4 auto quattro won't start, won't crank, all I get is dash lights and no noise. Installed new ignition switch, didn't fix. Pulled and tested starter, seems fine. No blown fuses and no fault codes. Tried to check wiring and ground connections what I could get to looks fine. Battery is fine. First time it happened car would not start, jumped it and it started right up. About a week later same thing except the car would not jump start. Held the ignition switch on for 20 seconds also. So after ignition install I ordered a new starter as everything was leading to bad starter. Checking voltage from the small wire to the starter today. That seems to be my last resort. Does anyone have any other ideas? I have spent 3 day searching online and keep coming up with everything I've already done.

Thanks in advance- John

 

are you getting and codes?

 

Thanks,
No codes except when I reconnect the battery which is normal. I clear and no other codes appear. ?????????

 

wait so there are no codes poppin up or they clear away when you reconnect the battery?

 

Correct. No codes popping up and I just checked the small wire and the main wire and both have 12 volts. Installing new starter today. It may not solve the problem but a new starter is better than an old one since I have already purchased it. I'm lost on this one.

 

Okay,

New starter in, did not start, did not crank. No fault codes. Have 12 volts to the starter but does not turn over. Pulled all fuses all good. Opened ECU box and it looks like its been damp, not real wet. Found out about 2 years ago the power supply relay was replaced. Could this have gone bad again? Which relay is the power supply? If the starter is getting power than why wouldn't the car crank? Again no fault codes showing.

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

So you have 12V at the main power connector at the starter. How about the small signal wire at the starter when you turn the key. Try to bring 12V+ from the battery directly to the signal post on the starter, this should crank it.
If it does crank over turn on your ignition and try to crank it again via the 12V+ at the signal post. If the car start you only need to troubleshoot the starting circuit, perhaps a bad relay or ignition switch.

 

Ta Da!!!! Starting problem fixed! It was the 395 labeled relay under the ECU. It didn't look bad but process of elimination and a small jumper wire in place of that relay discovered the problem! So I have a new starter, new ignition switch and a used relay 395. Learned a lot in replacing these and felt better that I did it myself. Thanks to everyone on this forum that helped!

 

Awesome man! Cheers!