help! 97 audi wont start!

air-cool-me · 05-01-2006, 01:48 PM

alright.. i owe a young lady a favor... and she wants me to save her a trip to the shop with her car... the problem is ive never even crawled under a car with anger newer then 89'

its a manual 97 A4 and the battery's charged and all the fuses are good looking...

but when you hit the key nothing happens...

just a buzzing sound when you turn the key to start.

the CEL is on but its always on when the cars not running...

any ideas on what i should check or where i should ask for help?

thanks -nick

asphaltgambler · 05-01-2006, 02:37 PM

Do you have a good battery and connections? Verified by a voltmeter........ First place I'd start. Has she had this issue before?

oldE · 05-01-2006, 02:43 PM

Nick,

You didn't say whether the buzzing was the sort you hear from an alert buzzer or the kind you hear from a starter solenoid which can't get the starter turning. If it is the latter, try rocking the car in gear to see if you can turn the flywheel past that area.
Failing that, I'm guessing either
a/ a loose connection at the battery. Check both terminals.
b/ loose connection at the starter or bad solenoid. Again check connections, or
c/ bad starter.

Is there a clutch interlock switch on the car? There is probably a mechanical switch somewhere near the pivot of the clutch pedal, hooked into the ignition circuit. If this switch breaks, the car won't start even if the clutch is depressed. You might be able to jump this if you can find it and there is no continuity when activated.

Failing that, call for help.

Les

Jims5543 · 05-01-2006, 02:59 PM

Does it have an alarm? These cars have some of the worst electrical. Our 2001s A-6 alarm would go off for no reason a lot, killing the ignition.

Our 2005 is starting to do the same thing. It armed the alarm when we got out of the car in the garage last night. Then, I set it off as I opened the drivers door to retrieve the keys just in case it decided to lock itself for no reason. It has done that too.. God!! This is my LAST Audi!!

Zeke · 05-01-2006, 03:12 PM

I doan know, is this a black Audi wagon? Could be sabotaged.

air-cool-me · 05-01-2006, 04:55 PM

its an alert buzzer.. i did the rocking the car... no luck!

i will check battery. check conections.. and check interlock switch

Quote:

Originally posted by oldE
Nick,

You didn't say whether the buzzing was the sort you hear from an alert buzzer or the kind you hear from a starter solenoid which can't get the starter turning. If it is the latter, try rocking the car in gear to see if you can turn the flywheel past that area.
Failing that, I'm guessing either
a/ a loose connection at the battery. Check both terminals.
b/ loose connection at the starter or bad solenoid. Again check connections, or
c/ bad starter.

Is there a clutch interlock switch on the car? There is probably a mechanical switch somewhere near the pivot of the clutch pedal, hooked into the ignition circuit. If this switch breaks, the car won't start even if the clutch is depressed. You might be able to jump this if you can find it and there is no continuity when activated.

Failing that, call for help.

Les