Car stalled at stop sign, now it won't start

Hi, I just bought a 2001 A4 1.8T Fwd Trip with 116K miles on it a few
days ago. This morning the car started up fine (the OK! display came
on) and I drove to the end of my street where I stopped at a stop sign.
At the stop, the car turned off by its-self and wouldn't restart after
that. Here's what happens when I try to restart my car.

1. All the lights turn on and everything electronic works fine.
2. The engine makes a "whiirrrrr"ing noise, but does not turn.

I didn't think it was the battery, but I tried jump starting it
anyways. That didn't work, so its not the battery.

I've spent a considerable time searching the forum and from the info
posted I think its the starter.
To me it sounds like the starter is turning but its not connecting to
the engine crank. Someone in a previous post suggested that tapping the
starter with a hammer to see if that works. I'd like to try that but I
have no idea where the starter is and what it looks like

Also, I'm still not 100% convinced that its the starter because that
still doesn't explain why the car died in the first place.

So what do you guys think? Starter or something else? Any help would be
greatly appreciated.

I'd really be grateful if someone in the area (Orlando, FL) would be
willing to stop by and help me solve this problem or if someone could
recommend a good (and relatively inexpensive!) mechanic who I can take
the car to.

Someone in a previous post recommended Hans in altamonte springs, but
that was a year old post. Any comments or other alternatives?

Also, I'd like to get involved with local Audi owners, I don't know
much about auto repair but I'm handy with tools and willing to learn.
If someone has any projects that they need some help on, I'd like to
help. (Or if someone would like to help/guide me though repairing my
own car!)

Get in touch with me guys, I'm in the UCF Area. I see lots of nice
looking A4's cruising along. Where art thou?

Please somebody come around and help me figure out what to do with my
current problem, it'd be great if somebody could bring a VAG!

Don't laugh, but... Do you have a cigarette lighter low on your console? Is
the lighter in it?
My son threw his change on the area in front of his shifter, and a coin fell
into where the cigarette lighter is when he hit the brakes car died.
my2cents.

--
please reply to bargerw NO @ SPAM bellsouth.net and remove the NOSPAM


"Sami D." > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Hi, I just bought a 2001 A4 1.8T Fwd Trip with 116K miles on it a few
> days ago. This morning the car started up fine (the OK! display came
> on) and I drove to the end of my street where I stopped at a stop sign.
> At the stop, the car turned off by its-self and wouldn't restart after
> that. Here's what happens when I try to restart my car.
>
> 1. All the lights turn on and everything electronic works fine.
> 2. The engine makes a "whiirrrrr"ing noise, but does not turn.
>
> I didn't think it was the battery, but I tried jump starting it
> anyways. That didn't work, so its not the battery.
>
> I've spent a considerable time searching the forum and from the info
> posted I think its the starter.
> To me it sounds like the starter is turning but its not connecting to
> the engine crank. Someone in a previous post suggested that tapping the
> starter with a hammer to see if that works. I'd like to try that but I
> have no idea where the starter is and what it looks like
>
> Also, I'm still not 100% convinced that its the starter because that
> still doesn't explain why the car died in the first place.
>
> So what do you guys think? Starter or something else? Any help would be
> greatly appreciated.
>
> I'd really be grateful if someone in the area (Orlando, FL) would be
> willing to stop by and help me solve this problem or if someone could
> recommend a good (and relatively inexpensive!) mechanic who I can take
> the car to.
>
> Someone in a previous post recommended Hans in altamonte springs, but
> that was a year old post. Any comments or other alternatives?
>
> Also, I'd like to get involved with local Audi owners, I don't know
> much about auto repair but I'm handy with tools and willing to learn.
> If someone has any projects that they need some help on, I'd like to
> help. (Or if someone would like to help/guide me though repairing my
> own car!)
>
> Get in touch with me guys, I'm in the UCF Area. I see lots of nice
> looking A4's cruising along. Where art thou?
>
> Please somebody come around and help me figure out what to do with my
> current problem, it'd be great if somebody could bring a VAG!
>

In message .com>
"Sami D." > wrote:

> Hi, I just bought a 2001 A4 1.8T Fwd Trip with 116K miles on it a few

.... I guess you mean 'Tip' as in Tiptronic!

[Snip]

> 1. All the lights turn on and everything electronic works fine.
> 2. The engine makes a "whiirrrrr"ing noise, but does not turn.

Okay, so the starter is spinning, but the engine itself isn't turning
over?

It should be a pre-engaged starter, so won't spin until it thinks the
gear is meshed with the ring gear on the flywheel. I would guess, then,
that a tooth or two has stripped from the ring gear. The best thing to
do is to turn the engine over slightly, by hand and then try the starter
again. Since it's an auto (Tip), you won't be able to turn the engine
by selecting a gear and pushing te car. The best way to turn the engine
would be to get a spanner onto the nut holding the crank pulley.

--
Peter Bell (Note Spamtrap - To reply, replace 'invalid' with 'bellfamily')

lol..thats funny, thanks for the idea though!

On Nov 17, 12:52 pm, "Bill" > wrote:
> Don't laugh, but... Do you have a cigarette lighter low on your console? Is
> the lighter in it?
> My son threw his change on the area in front of his shifter, and a coin fell
> into where the cigarette lighter is when he hit the brakes car died.
> my2cents.
>
> --
> please reply to bargerw NO @ SPAM bellsouth.net and remove the NOSPAM
>
> "Sami D." > wrote in ooglegroups.com...
>
> > Hi, I just bought a 2001 A4 1.8T Fwd Trip with 116K miles on it a few
> > days ago. This morning the car started up fine (the OK! display came
> > on) and I drove to the end of my street where I stopped at a stop sign.
> > At the stop, the car turned off by its-self and wouldn't restart after
> > that. Here's what happens when I try to restart my car.
>
> > 1. All the lights turn on and everything electronic works fine.
> > 2. The engine makes a "whiirrrrr"ing noise, but does not turn.
>
> > I didn't think it was the battery, but I tried jump starting it
> > anyways. That didn't work, so its not the battery.
>
> > I've spent a considerable time searching the forum and from the info
> > posted I think its the starter.
> > To me it sounds like the starter is turning but its not connecting to
> > the engine crank. Someone in a previous post suggested that tapping the
> > starter with a hammer to see if that works. I'd like to try that but I
> > have no idea where the starter is and what it looks like
>
> > Also, I'm still not 100% convinced that its the starter because that
> > still doesn't explain why the car died in the first place.
>
> > So what do you guys think? Starter or something else? Any help would be
> > greatly appreciated.
>
> > I'd really be grateful if someone in the area (Orlando, FL) would be
> > willing to stop by and help me solve this problem or if someone could
> > recommend a good (and relatively inexpensive!) mechanic who I can take
> > the car to.
>
> > Someone in a previous post recommended Hans in altamonte springs, but
> > that was a year old post. Any comments or other alternatives?
>
> > Also, I'd like to get involved with local Audi owners, I don't know
> > much about auto repair but I'm handy with tools and willing to learn.
> > If someone has any projects that they need some help on, I'd like to
> > help. (Or if someone would like to help/guide me though repairing my
> > own car!)
>
> > Get in touch with me guys, I'm in the UCF Area. I see lots of nice
> > looking A4's cruising along. Where art thou?
>
> > Please somebody come around and help me figure out what to do with my
> > current problem, it'd be great if somebody could bring a VAG!

Hey, thanks for the detailed reply. I want to give it a try, but
someone suggested that the timing belt might have broken (what do you
guys think?) and if that has happening, actually turning the engine
might cause engine damage right?

Do guys think it might be a timing belt snap? Somebody else told me
that its probably not the timing belt because the engine would still
turn when I try to start the car.



On Nov 17, 12:57 pm, Peter Bell > wrote:
> In message .com>
> "Sami D." > wrote:
>
> > Hi, I just bought a 2001 A4 1.8T Fwd Trip with 116K miles on it a few... I guess you mean 'Tip' as in Tiptronic!
>
> [Snip]
>
> > 1. All the lights turn on and everything electronic works fine.
> > 2. The engine makes a "whiirrrrr"ing noise, but does not turn.Okay, so the starter is spinning, but the engine itself isn't turning
> over?
>
> It should be a pre-engaged starter, so won't spin until it thinks the
> gear is meshed with the ring gear on the flywheel. I would guess, then,
> that a tooth or two has stripped from the ring gear. The best thing to
> do is to turn the engine over slightly, by hand and then try the starter
> again. Since it's an auto (Tip), you won't be able to turn the engine
> by selecting a gear and pushing te car. The best way to turn the engine
> would be to get a spanner onto the nut holding the crank pulley.
>
> --
> Peter Bell (Note Spamtrap - To reply, replace 'invalid' with 'bellfamily')

On 17 Nov 2006 09:04:06 -0800, "Sami D." >
wrote:

>To me it sounds like the starter is turning but its not connecting to
>the engine crank.

Sounds like your timing belt went. Hope it didn't eat many valves in
doing so.

In message .com>
"Sami D." > wrote:

> Do guys think it might be a timing belt snap? Somebody else told me
> that its probably not the timing belt because the engine would still
> turn when I try to start the car.

I guess it's possible. The crank would still spin, and the pistons
move up and down but, because the camshaft drive fails, there's
little compression and the engine spins very easily. There would have
been a rattle when it came to a stop, as valves/pistons collided.

Turning the engine over slowly is unlikely to do any more damage than
has already occured.

--
Peter Bell (Note Spamtrap - To reply, replace 'invalid' with 'bellfamily')

yeh i talked to an audi mechanic today, he said the same thing. damn,
and i just bought the effing car.


On Nov 17, 4:45 pm, Dave LaCourse > wrote:
> On 17 Nov 2006 09:04:06 -0800, "Sami D." >
> wrote:
>
> >To me it sounds like the starter is turning but its not connecting to
> >the engine crank.Sounds like your timing belt went. Hope it didn't eat many valves in
> doing so.

On 17 Nov 2006 14:43:49 -0800, "Sami D." >
wrote:

>
>yeh i talked to an audi mechanic today, he said the same thing. damn,
>and i just bought the effing car.
>
>
>On Nov 17, 4:45 pm, Dave LaCourse > wrote:
>> On 17 Nov 2006 09:04:06 -0800, "Sami D." >
>> wrote:
>>
>> >To me it sounds like the starter is turning but its not connecting to
>> >the engine crank.Sounds like your timing belt went. Hope it didn't eat many valves in
>> doing so.


That shows why it is so vitally important to have a competentent
mechanic inspect the car before you buy it! And to insist on seeing
all past service records. If previous service records are not
available, then a wise buyer will assume they have not been done, and
factor these into the final price.

I'd say you've learned a painful lesson in buying a car, and you have
my sympathy. Hopefully it won't cost too much to repair.

On Fri, 17 Nov 2006 20:10:03 -0500, PeterD > wrote:

>On 17 Nov 2006 14:43:49 -0800, "Sami D." >
>wrote:
>
>>
>>yeh i talked to an audi mechanic today, he said the same thing. damn,
>>and i just bought the effing car.
>>
>>
>>On Nov 17, 4:45 pm, Dave LaCourse > wrote:
>>> On 17 Nov 2006 09:04:06 -0800, "Sami D." >
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> >To me it sounds like the starter is turning but its not connecting to
>>> >the engine crank.Sounds like your timing belt went. Hope it didn't eat many valves in
>>> doing so.
>
>
>That shows why it is so vitally important to have a competentent
>mechanic inspect the car before you buy it! And to insist on seeing
>all past service records. If previous service records are not
>available, then a wise buyer will assume they have not been done, and
>factor these into the final price.
>
>I'd say you've learned a painful lesson in buying a car, and you have
>my sympathy. Hopefully it won't cost too much to repair.

In fairness, one could have had all the advantages as listed, and still end up
with a tb failure in short time. The originally recommended tb replacement
interval has since been fairly well shown to be optimistic by at least 20K
miles...

/daytripper
'00 s4 6spd