Audi A4 Avant B7 Estate Starter Motor Replacement

[robdupre]

Hi all,

Car wouldn't start, and after some investigation it looks like its the starter motor (confirmed by an RAC guy I know).

Have really struggled to find any resources online on getting the thing out!

I can get to the bottom of the two bolts that holds the unit on, but the higher second bolt is a total pain! Also its looking like its going to be a nightmare to get it physically out of the car, so any tips on that too!

Does anyone have any advice at how to get to it? Or know of any resources on how to get the thing out!

Cheers

[rowdy-999]

Hi all,

Car wouldn't start, and after some investigation it looks like its the starter motor (confirmed by an RAC guy I know).

Have really struggled to find any resources online on getting the thing out!

I can get to the bottom of the two bolts that holds the unit on, but the higher second bolt is a total pain! Also its looking like its going to be a nightmare to get it physically out of the car, so any tips on that too!

Does anyone have any advice at how to get to it? Or know of any resources on how to get the thing out!

Cheers

Engine?

[robdupre]

Yes of course!

2.0lt TDi.

The starter motor is on the drivers side just below/ behind the exhaust

[robdupre]

Just to close this out for anyone else who is thinking about attempting this.

It's actually not too bad a job, Ill do a little step by step just in case it helps the next person. Obviously before starting you will need to get the car up nice and high, two jack stands on the front jack points should do the trick. Also I disconnected the battery, I think I have read that you can just disconnect the earth and you should be fine however I wasn't sure. I'm sure someone more experienced can wade in on this and I can throw an edit in.

1. Take off any engine covers top and bottom

2. Take to top half off of the air filter housing and remove the air filter.
This should give you access to the exhaust outlet from the turbo, heading to the catalytic converter.

3. Undo the exhaust join underneath the car, should be in the middle centre of the underside, should be two bolts holding a clamp joining the two lengths of exhaust. Above a support.

4. Undo the catalytic converted from the turbo, this is three 12mm nuts, two of which are easily accessible the third which is really not.
For this I could get a ring spanner on but there was not enough space to actually work with it. I used a 12mm 1/2 inch socket on a universal joint. Then a small extension as well if its easier. Finding a sweet spot from which to undo this is a ******* and it might be easier from below.

5. move the now released catalytic converter back as far as it will go
This will give you 'access' to the top of the starter motor and the top bolt. This screws in forward from the bell housing into the starter motor. Its prettu hard to locate at first but follow back from the top of the starter motor and you will find it buried.

6. Using a stubby 16mm spanner get the ring end on and hopefully you will have enough room to shift it. I found a standard length spanner got caught even after moving catalytic converter.

7. Next from the bottom of the car undo the retaining bolt that holds the live cable to the starter motor housing, should be a 10mm nut, shouldn't be too tight.
Next is the allen / hex bolt on the bottom of the starter motor. This screws into the gearbox housing from the front of the car, much much easier to get to.

8. Get yourself a decent 8mm allen / hex socket. You will need a reasonably long extension for the socket as access is only from a reasonable distance away. I was using a 3/8 socket at this point not sure if a half inch on an extension will fit as again its quite snug.
Once it's undone the starter motor should be free. I found that there was an engine mount that was in the way, if possible use an extension that doesn't require you to remove this but if that's not available then its easy enough to unbolt and move out the way. However it means bending it and obviously that's not ideal!

9. Now you should be able to move the motor out and into a better position to get the cables off. A 13mm nut holds the live cable on, but the actual cable wont come off until you have taken off the push fitting.
This can be a pain to get off, have a close look at it and there should be a tab to lift allowing it to slide off. Once this is off the other two cables will also come off, finally freeing the thing from the car.

10. Through a contortionist lever of manipulation the starter motor can come out of the the gap made when moving the catalytic converter. It will require some spinning and moving but it will go!

11. Stick the new one in, in the same way and reconnect in the reverse order.

Took about two hours once I had the correct tools. Its definitely not a hard job but it is frustrating and having an extra pair of hands to hold things was useful! Also starter motors are very much plug and play, not adjustment tuning etc required so really simple.
I did find that when everything was back together it wasn't idling smoothly to start with. Give it some revs after its been running a minute, as you have messed with the exhaust you may well dislodge some crap and might get some back pressure issues. A good couple of revs to blow it all through and mine was fine again.

I hope this helps. I'm sure the more experienced member of the forum will find this very much a triviality, but I searched long and hard online to find some sort of guide before trying to make the decision on whether to do it myself so I hope this helps someone else in my position!

Cheers!

[Lockstock]

Hi Robdupre

After searching the Web to try and find some help with not only locating the correct place of the starter motor - you have given an amizingly helpful description on where & how to replace it. I have the A4 b7 saloon not estate, but I'm hoping that our engines will be the same and if not identical they will hopefully be v similar. So a big thank you for you help......if you read this in the next few days could you possibly post a picture of where the motor is from top view with perhaps a screwdriver for direction??
So thanks for your time and efforts to post your description in your last post!!
Regards
Lockstock

[robdupre]

Hi Robdupre

After searching the Web to try and find some help with not only locating the correct place of the starter motor - you have given an amizingly helpful description on where & how to replace it. I have the A4 b7 saloon not estate, but I'm hoping that our engines will be the same and if not identical they will hopefully be v similar. So a big thank you for you help......if you read this in the next few days could you possibly post a picture of where the motor is from top view with perhaps a screwdriver for direction??
So thanks for your time and efforts to post your description in your last post!!
Regards
Lockstock

Hi there, unfortunately I smashed my phone over the weekend so no photo. However if you are facing the front of the car with the engine cover off, mine was buried at the back left of the engine bay, at the bottom of the block. My turbo was also this side as was the air filter housing. I do believe that there are versions of the b7 that have it all on the opposite side!

Hope it helps

Rob