Problems starting...still.

[Northernstar002]

I've just tested the voltages: Engine off: 12.38 at the battery and 12.38 at the jump terminals. Engine running: 13.85 at the battery and 14.00 at the terminals. It was too dark to measure at the alternator.

Also, the terminals weren't hot by any standard. not even really warm to the touch - nothing to cause concern there I think. I'll still have some fault codes read but it hasn't failed since which, even though it may have a problem, is normal behavior.

[niall campbell]

The alternator is maybe a bit low, but the alternator has a clutch system, meaning that the car battery modulator tells the alternator to work to produce more power .................. so switch on full beam and heating full blast to put the car under load to get 14.5 volts out of the alternator or thereabouts

But it seems good , just keep going with the waiting on glow plugs light to go out before starting; its a case of wait and see ........................ your cheapest option

[Northernstar002]

Hi all,

Thought I'd give you an update. I've had the fault codes read and the alternator output measured. The alternator is fine, as is the rest of the electrical system. The faults lead toward intermittent comms with the ECU - exactly the same as the fault I paid my rogue mechanic to fix over a year ago. However, by following advice to let the glow plugs go through their cycle (let the light go out prior to starting) seems to be working as it hasn't played up since. But, it was always an intermittent fault anyway.

My rogue mechanic by the way is called Steve Ford of 'Auditech', Colerne Wiltshire. Avoid him like the plague. It's my civic duty to warn you nice people off of this idiot and not to get caught like I did, if any of you are local that is.

Thanks for all of your help.

[niall campbell]

That's good it has worked for you, as it does on mine.

[Bizza09]

Hello just wondering if you can help me, I am having the exact same thing happening to my 2007 A6. Did you manage to solve the problem or find out what it was causing the intermittent starting?
It is going in the garage next week but I would like to go with some info if possible. Thanks for any help from anyone! 👍👌

[swalker]

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0...jNvWll1dWhkTU0Afternoon all,

I have a 2007 A6, 2.0tdi Avant C6 with a bre engine and an intermittent staring fault.

It's really annoying as the car will drive well most of the time but once every 50 starts (roughly) the engine will just turn over and time out. At this point it will bleat about the parking brake, directing you to drive to the nearest workshop. When you turn the key again it will start fine, but the ESP light will be on and cruise control will not activate.

When you get to where you're going and leave it for an hour or so, it will start fine first time. The lights will be out and it's as if nothing ever happened.

That's the most common issue, but once in a while it will refuse to start at all. Just before Christmas this happened. I tried starting it again and again until I gave up and left it - each time it was bleating about the parking brake or sometimes an ESP fault. I brought my other car in the next day and parked behind my Audi - so it had been left overnight. It would normally start after having left it for this long, but it still wouldnt have it. The battery was still at 100%, but just before I called the RAC out I though I'd just try jumping it from my other car. Bugger me the darned thing started!

So, just after Christmas I bought another battery, slightly higher spec than the one that was on there (which was rated at 750 CCA, the new one is 900) and it started straight up following the swap - it continued to start first time every time for weeks until this morning. I was sat in the car park after having switched it off for 20 mins and it would restart. Before leaving it for too long I asked someone for a jump which started it - albeit on the second turn.

I'm going to have the fault codes read asap but what could the cause be?

Why is it so intermittent? Surely something is either faulty or it's not?

I have no confidence in the car anymore.

Help, thoughts or suggestions gladly welcomed.

sorry against time here so havent read all - J317 i had the same and was pointed towards another thread which the search did not throw up. if you look at my posts and jump into warm start strangness. I cleaned earth points and j317 contacts which cured it for a while then it came back big time, a new j317 fixed it. the part has been superseded i will get the new one for you in a bit.

[Bizza09]

sorry against time here so havent read all - J317 i had the same and was pointed towards another thread which the search did not throw up. if you look at my posts and jump into warm start strangness. I cleaned earth points and j317 contacts which cured it for a while then it came back big time, a new j317 fixed it. the part has been superseded i will get the new one for you in a bit.

Thanks alot for the reply!!
Any info is great, I'm not sure what a j317 is. I will try and look at your other posts.
It's been happening for about 2 month on my car but has definitely got worse over past couple of weeks

[swalker]

j317 is the ECU power relay located below ECU top right of engine bay. you need the wipers off to get the trim off, to get the lid off the box. BTW is it free of water in there and the she wee (cup below center wiper to direct water away) clear? the relay part number is 4H0-951-253 £18 from Audi
when this goes down the can bus does not come up and all hell breaks loose as you have seen from your dash board...

[Bizza09]

j317 is the ECU power relay located below ECU top right of engine bay. you need the wipers off to get the trim off, to get the lid off the box. BTW is it free of water in there and the she wee (cup below center wiper to direct water away) clear? the relay part number is 4H0-951-253 £18 from Audi
when this goes down the can bus does not come up and all hell breaks loose as you have seen from your dash board...

It was all full of water but i took wipers and panel off afew weeks ago and cleaned it all out, and the she wee cup was a inch full of crud!
Is it simple enough to fit a relay??

Thanks again for the help its most appreciated!!

[swalker]

Snap that's what kicked mine off. Yea it's 4 pin, unplug and plug in new. getting at it removing the trim is the hard part.