1 more fault away from doing a basil fawlty on my audi!!!!!! help please

[spiceweasel]

bought 1999 audi a4 2.4se a couple of months ago and its spent most of its time in the garage cambelt, brakes, cv joints various radio problems and iv'e been drving it happily for a couple of weeks finally starting to realise why you guys like em so much then im at the hospital last nite with the little un and the b*****d wouldn't start no warning watsoever batterys fine everything lit up ok no engine management warnings just wouldn't start luckily was on a hill managed to bump start it......... then got in this morning started up no problem drove for a bit stopped had brew at mommas got back in started no probs drove for a bit stopped for about an hour and same again wouldnt start without bump startin it again no warnings really struggling to get to garage before wed anyone any tips to keep me going a while i know somethings on its way out just dont wanna get caught out with little un in car and not on a hill, or indeed anyone in north west area who does maybe mobile repairs could come have a look on a sunday( the day of sabbeth!!!!) really losing patience with the motor now!!!!! thanks in advance

[gjm123]

I'm new to Audis but have been around cars for a long time (including VWs) - this sounds like a starter motor solenoid problem. Seen it many times - on the old Bendix-type starter motors you could fix it by tapping the starter motor with a hammer. The solenoid sticks and needs to be freed off.

I hope you fix it soon - our (new to us) A4 1.9 TDi has many problems but it sems inherently a good car and (at the moment!) I feel worth the effort to get it sorted.

[spiceweasel]

thanks for the reply, i know somewhere theres a good car lurking think i just bought at a bad time, gonna try find starter motor and take a hammer to it hope i dont get too carried away with it!!!! thanks again

[gjm123]

I'm hoping someone else will be able to confirm (or otherwise) my suggestion...

Don't get mad with it - it shouldn't take more than a couple of firm taps with the hammer.

Good luck!

[MalcQV]

I assume it is not turning over and is just dead? If that is the case though I am not familiar with your car the advice given sounds good to me.

I had this problem with an Opel Manta many years ago, it being an automatic meant without a hammer (well actually a spanner) to tap the solenoid some days it would not go.

As mentioned don't go mad a light tap with the end of a spanner should be adequate. I found quite often with the Manta someone had to be turning the key at the same time - be careful ;)

If this is the remedy then consider a new solenoid/starter motor.

[spiceweasel]

thanks a lot guys, gonna sound like a real numpty now but anyone point me in the right direction where i should be looking in my engine i rarely go under the bonnet of my car!!!!