A4 won't start

"GarryA4" wrote in message

> Hi, I would really appreciate some help with a problem I'm having with
> my 1996 A4 2.6.
> The car will not start from cold. There is no spark and no smell of
> fuel. The imobiliser light goes off as expected. If the car is towed it
> will start, run smoothly and restart imediately. The car will then
> drive fine and start normally for the rest of the day. There is no
> missing or rough idling, the car sounds and drives lovely. If the car
> is left overnight it will not start the following morning. I have had
> the codes chacked which, first time, showed a crankshaft sensor error
> and the second time showed a cam shaft sensor error. Both sensors have
> been replaced but the fault persists. (This is getting expensive!) One
> symptom I noticed over the couple of weeks prior to the no-start
> situation was that the car would require a few turns before starting.
> Has anyone had this problem or have any ideas what could be wrong?
>

My V6 2.4 underwent a similar symptom, failed to start a few odd mornings in
particular after cold nights. I checked out the battery with the hygrometer
and it showed one cell low. Fitted new battery and all is now well.

I think at the cost of a battery say £70 its your next best try. Keep the
old one though don't let the dealer dispose of it....yet.

dj
 >> Stay informed about: A4 won't start 

Lez Pawl wrote:
> "GarryA4" wrote in message
>
> > Hi, I would really appreciate some help with a problem I'm having with
> > my 1996 A4 2.6.
> > The car will not start from cold. There is no spark and no smell of
> > fuel. The imobiliser light goes off as expected. If the car is towed it
> > will start, run smoothly and restart imediately. The car will then
> > drive fine and start normally for the rest of the day. There is no
> > missing or rough idling, the car sounds and drives lovely. If the car
> > is left overnight it will not start the following morning. I have had
> > the codes chacked which, first time, showed a crankshaft sensor error
> > and the second time showed a cam shaft sensor error. Both sensors have
> > been replaced but the fault persists. (This is getting expensive!) One
> > symptom I noticed over the couple of weeks prior to the no-start
> > situation was that the car would require a few turns before starting.
> > Has anyone had this problem or have any ideas what could be wrong?
> >
>
> My V6 2.4 underwent a similar symptom, failed to start a few odd mornings in
> particular after cold nights. I checked out the battery with the hygrometer
> and it showed one cell low. Fitted new battery and all is now well.
>
> I think at the cost of a battery say £70 its your next best try. Keep the
> old one though don't let the dealer dispose of it....yet.
>
> dj

I've already tried a replacement known good battery. The car turns over
at normal speed but just doesn't fire. The car only requires a slow
push to bump start. The only sign of a problem is that it then requires
slightly longer turning over to start, but will start for hours
afterwards.
 >> Stay informed about: A4 won't start 

GarryA4 wrote:
> Lez Pawl wrote:
>
>>"GarryA4" wrote in message
>>
>>
>>>Hi, I would really appreciate some help with a problem I'm having with
>>>my 1996 A4 2.6.
>>>The car will not start from cold. There is no spark and no smell of
>>>fuel. The imobiliser light goes off as expected. If the car is towed it
>>>will start, run smoothly and restart imediately. The car will then
>>>drive fine and start normally for the rest of the day. There is no
>>>missing or rough idling, the car sounds and drives lovely. If the car
>>>is left overnight it will not start the following morning. I have had
>>>the codes chacked which, first time, showed a crankshaft sensor error
>>>and the second time showed a cam shaft sensor error. Both sensors have
>>>been replaced but the fault persists. (This is getting expensive!) One
>>>symptom I noticed over the couple of weeks prior to the no-start
>>>situation was that the car would require a few turns before starting.
>>>Has anyone had this problem or have any ideas what could be wrong?
>>>
>>
>>My V6 2.4 underwent a similar symptom, failed to start a few odd mornings in
>>particular after cold nights. I checked out the battery with the hygrometer
>>and it showed one cell low. Fitted new battery and all is now well.
>>
>>I think at the cost of a battery say £70 its your next best try. Keep the
>>old one though don't let the dealer dispose of it....yet.
>>
>>dj
>
>
> I've already tried a replacement known good battery. The car turns over
> at normal speed but just doesn't fire. The car only requires a slow
> push to bump start. The only sign of a problem is that it then requires
> slightly longer turning over to start, but will start for hours
> afterwards.
>
Possibly a failing crank position sensor or cam position sensor is out of
adjustment. I would pull the codes to see what the computer thinks as a starting
place.

TonyJ
'98.5 A4 1.8TQM
 >> Stay informed about: A4 won't start 

ign switch??

"Tony" wrote in message

>
>
> GarryA4 wrote:
>> Lez Pawl wrote:
>>
>>>"GarryA4" wrote in message
>>>
>>>
>>>>Hi, I would really appreciate some help with a problem I'm having with
>>>>my 1996 A4 2.6.
>>>>The car will not start from cold. There is no spark and no smell of
>>>>fuel. The imobiliser light goes off as expected. If the car is towed it
>>>>will start, run smoothly and restart imediately. The car will then
>>>>drive fine and start normally for the rest of the day. There is no
>>>>missing or rough idling, the car sounds and drives lovely. If the car
>>>>is left overnight it will not start the following morning. I have had
>>>>the codes chacked which, first time, showed a crankshaft sensor error
>>>>and the second time showed a cam shaft sensor error. Both sensors have
>>>>been replaced but the fault persists. (This is getting expensive!) One
>>>>symptom I noticed over the couple of weeks prior to the no-start
>>>>situation was that the car would require a few turns before starting.
>>>>Has anyone had this problem or have any ideas what could be wrong?
>>>>
>>>
>>>My V6 2.4 underwent a similar symptom, failed to start a few odd mornings
>>>in
>>>particular after cold nights. I checked out the battery with the
>>>hygrometer
>>>and it showed one cell low. Fitted new battery and all is now well.
>>>
>>>I think at the cost of a battery say £70 its your next best try. Keep the
>>>old one though don't let the dealer dispose of it....yet.
>>>
>>>dj
>>
>>
>> I've already tried a replacement known good battery. The car turns over
>> at normal speed but just doesn't fire. The car only requires a slow
>> push to bump start. The only sign of a problem is that it then requires
>> slightly longer turning over to start, but will start for hours
>> afterwards.
>>
> Possibly a failing crank position sensor or cam position sensor is out of
> adjustment. I would pull the codes to see what the computer thinks as a
> starting place.
>
> TonyJ
> '98.5 A4 1.8TQM
 >> Stay informed about: A4 won't start 

dave AKA vwdoc1 wrote:
> ign switch??
>
> "Tony" wrote in message
>
> >
> >
> > GarryA4 wrote:
> >> Lez Pawl wrote:
> >>
> >>>"GarryA4" wrote in message
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>Hi, I would really appreciate some help with a problem I'm having with
> >>>>my 1996 A4 2.6.
> >>>>The car will not start from cold. There is no spark and no smell of
> >>>>fuel. The imobiliser light goes off as expected. If the car is towed it
> >>>>will start, run smoothly and restart imediately. The car will then
> >>>>drive fine and start normally for the rest of the day. There is no
> >>>>missing or rough idling, the car sounds and drives lovely. If the car
> >>>>is left overnight it will not start the following morning. I have had
> >>>>the codes chacked which, first time, showed a crankshaft sensor error
> >>>>and the second time showed a cam shaft sensor error. Both sensors have
> >>>>been replaced but the fault persists. (This is getting expensive!) One
> >>>>symptom I noticed over the couple of weeks prior to the no-start
> >>>>situation was that the car would require a few turns before starting.
> >>>>Has anyone had this problem or have any ideas what could be wrong?
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>My V6 2.4 underwent a similar symptom, failed to start a few odd mornings
> >>>in
> >>>particular after cold nights. I checked out the battery with the
> >>>hygrometer
> >>>and it showed one cell low. Fitted new battery and all is now well.
> >>>
> >>>I think at the cost of a battery say £70 its your next best try. Keep the
> >>>old one though don't let the dealer dispose of it....yet.
> >>>
> >>>dj
> >>
> >>
> >> I've already tried a replacement known good battery. The car turns over
> >> at normal speed but just doesn't fire. The car only requires a slow
> >> push to bump start. The only sign of a problem is that it then requires
> >> slightly longer turning over to start, but will start for hours
> >> afterwards.
> >>
> > Possibly a failing crank position sensor or cam position sensor is out of
> > adjustment. I would pull the codes to see what the computer thinks as a
> > starting place.
> >
> > TonyJ
> > '98.5 A4 1.8TQM

Crank and can sensors have already been changed. Garage are changing
ignition switch tomorrow. I'm not sure it fits the symtoms of an
ignition switch fault. The imobiliser light goes out as expected when
the key is inserted. Any more help would be greately appreciated!!!
 >> Stay informed about: A4 won't start 

GarryA4 wrote:
> dave AKA vwdoc1 wrote:
> > ign switch??
> >
> > "Tony" wrote in message
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > GarryA4 wrote:
> > >> Lez Pawl wrote:
> > >>
> > >>>"GarryA4" wrote in message
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>>Hi, I would really appreciate some help with a problem I'm having with
> > >>>>my 1996 A4 2.6.
> > >>>>The car will not start from cold. There is no spark and no smell of
> > >>>>fuel. The imobiliser light goes off as expected. If the car is towed it
> > >>>>will start, run smoothly and restart imediately. The car will then
> > >>>>drive fine and start normally for the rest of the day. There is no
> > >>>>missing or rough idling, the car sounds and drives lovely. If the car
> > >>>>is left overnight it will not start the following morning. I have had
> > >>>>the codes chacked which, first time, showed a crankshaft sensor error
> > >>>>and the second time showed a cam shaft sensor error. Both sensors have
> > >>>>been replaced but the fault persists. (This is getting expensive!) One
> > >>>>symptom I noticed over the couple of weeks prior to the no-start
> > >>>>situation was that the car would require a few turns before starting.
> > >>>>Has anyone had this problem or have any ideas what could be wrong?
> > >>>>
> > >>>
> > >>>My V6 2.4 underwent a similar symptom, failed to start a few odd mornings
> > >>>in
> > >>>particular after cold nights. I checked out the battery with the
> > >>>hygrometer
> > >>>and it showed one cell low. Fitted new battery and all is now well.
> > >>>
> > >>>I think at the cost of a battery say £70 its your next best try. Keep the
> > >>>old one though don't let the dealer dispose of it....yet.
> > >>>
> > >>>dj
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> I've already tried a replacement known good battery. The car turns over
> > >> at normal speed but just doesn't fire. The car only requires a slow
> > >> push to bump start. The only sign of a problem is that it then requires
> > >> slightly longer turning over to start, but will start for hours
> > >> afterwards.
> > >>
> > > Possibly a failing crank position sensor or cam position sensor is out of
> > > adjustment. I would pull the codes to see what the computer thinks as a
> > > starting place.
> > >
> > > TonyJ
> > > '98.5 A4 1.8TQM
>
> Crank and can sensors have already been changed. Garage are changing
> ignition switch tomorrow. I'm not sure it fits the symtoms of an
> ignition switch fault. The imobiliser light goes out as expected when
> the key is inserted. Any more help would be greately appreciated!!!

Well, the ignition switch didn't cure the problem. This fault has a lot
of people baffled, but someone must have seen this before.
 >> Stay informed about: A4 won't start 

Well lets see so far I read that:
Cranks but doesn't start.
Cam and Crank Sensors changed but faults still pop up.
No Fuel & no Spark while cranking.
New Battery.
hmmmm but it will start by push starting and a new ign. switch did not solve
this issue.

I would temporarily try a remote starter switch to see if it starts without
fully turning the ign switch to the 'crank' position.
Maybe it is the motion of the vehicle while either push starting it or by
towing it.
Maybe this movement causes a ground connection to work better. Check the
ground connections at the body, engine, and wherever else.

later,
dave
(One out of many daves)

"GarryA4" wrote in message


GarryA4 wrote:
> dave AKA vwdoc1 wrote:
> > ign switch??
> >
> > "Tony" wrote in message
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > GarryA4 wrote:
> > >> Lez Pawl wrote:
> > >>
> > >>>"GarryA4" wrote in message
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>>Hi, I would really appreciate some help with a problem I'm having
> > >>>>with
> > >>>>my 1996 A4 2.6.
> > >>>>The car will not start from cold. There is no spark and no smell of
> > >>>>fuel. The imobiliser light goes off as expected. If the car is towed
> > >>>>it
> > >>>>will start, run smoothly and restart imediately. The car will then
> > >>>>drive fine and start normally for the rest of the day. There is no
> > >>>>missing or rough idling, the car sounds and drives lovely. If the
> > >>>>car
> > >>>>is left overnight it will not start the following morning. I have
> > >>>>had
> > >>>>the codes chacked which, first time, showed a crankshaft sensor
> > >>>>error
> > >>>>and the second time showed a cam shaft sensor error. Both sensors
> > >>>>have
> > >>>>been replaced but the fault persists. (This is getting expensive!)
> > >>>>One
> > >>>>symptom I noticed over the couple of weeks prior to the no-start
> > >>>>situation was that the car would require a few turns before
> > >>>>starting.
> > >>>>Has anyone had this problem or have any ideas what could be wrong?
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> I've already tried a replacement known good battery. The car turns
> > >> over
> > >> at normal speed but just doesn't fire. The car only requires a slow
> > >> push to bump start. The only sign of a problem is that it then
> > >> requires
> > >> slightly longer turning over to start, but will start for hours
> > >> afterwards.
> > >>
> > > Possibly a failing crank position sensor or cam position sensor is out
> > > of
> > > adjustment. I would pull the codes to see what the computer thinks as
> > > a
> > > starting place.
> > >
> > > TonyJ
> > > '98.5 A4 1.8TQM
>
> Crank and can sensors have already been changed. Garage are changing
> ignition switch tomorrow. I'm not sure it fits the symtoms of an
> ignition switch fault. The imobiliser light goes out as expected when
> the key is inserted. Any more help would be greately appreciated!!!

Well, the ignition switch didn't cure the problem. This fault has a lot
of people baffled, but someone must have seen this before.
 >> Stay informed about: A4 won't start