A6 C6 3.0 TDI Starting difficulties when engine hot

Car starts very well from cold. Battery is good.

If I shut the engine down (eg at a garage for petrol) when I try to restart, the car seems like it has a flat battery and won't fire. This can happen for two or three attempts. Usually after this it then starts just fine, almost like there wasn't a problem in the first place.

'It starts eventually, so whats the problem?' I hear you cry. Well I guess you are right but I'm just waiting for the occasion when it won't start!

I'm sure I posted about this problem before but I can't find the thread, so thought I'd start a new one.

Things I've tried:

1. Praying - no difference
2. Fingers crossed - no difference
3. Cleaned battery terminals - seemed to make a small difference for a while
4. Tightened battery terminals - seemed to make a small difference for a while
5. Sworn - no difference
6. New battery - no difference

Any other ideas?

Thanks in advance

Jim

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Originally Posted by Big_Jim

If I shut the engine down (eg at a garage for petrol) .

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Well it wouldn't start well on petrol considering its a diesel ;)

Maybe the starter is on its way out?

https://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/s...-motor-failure

I have read the same symptom on other forums on the 3.0V6 TDi and it was the starter motor but have a google.

this happens on boats a lot due to the damp environment the engines run in. My Mastercraft has the same problem, I've been working my way through the battery cable and connections to the starter motor, replacing and or cleaning as I go. High resistance (worse when hot) somewhere. Highly likely it is the starter itself, but ensuring all connections are clean, including those to the starter itself is a good starting point and if the starter needs a rebuild then everything upstream is good. Most likely the same problem for you I would guess.

Thanks Chaps - very useful.

I'll let you know how I get on (apart from with the petrol ;-)).

Jim, why are you using that excessively large Audi logo on your posts...it just uses up room unecessarily....or is this perhaps why you chose your handle? :biglaugh:

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Originally Posted by MarkTM

Jim, why are you using that excessively large Audi logo on your posts...it just uses up room unecessarily....or is this perhaps why you chose your handle? :biglaugh:

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hahaha, thanks for pointing that out Mark. I'll remove it. :o

Is there a 'how to' change the starter motor anywhere? I've looked and looked but to no avail.

I used to get a long pause when starting with a hot engine on my 3.0TDi, you would turn the key and the engine would try to start to turn then stop for a couple of seconds then try and start again, this would only happen once. Ever since I changed the injectors this has gone away. My B7 A4 used to chew up starter motors, I went through 3 in around 60K miles, when they started to go it made some nasty sounds, are you getting any strange noises when starting?

Have you had the car scanned is there any fault codes?

Having replaced the regulator on my alternator I can say that removal of the starter (which sits behind the alternator and a little to the passenger side) looks quite easy.

You'll need a set of ramps and I think a 13mm and 10mm ratchet but you should have it off in about 5 mins and the same

Do you have the undershielding fitted to your car, if so and you've never taken it off before, remember to take a picture of the way it fits in the wheel arches. I forgot when I first took mine off and it took a bit of manouvering to get right.