'99 A4 Avant Quattro 1.8t. Here are the facts as best as I can translate. My wife was in the middle of a long freeway drive, she states the car suddenly without any warning lost power. She did not notice any engine noises before or after the sudden shutdown. The accessories stayed on, and the oil light came on. She shifted to a lower gear and the car abruptly slowed. The steering became very heavy as she slowed. She was able to run the accessories. I looked and the oil was o.k.. I tried the starter, and it just whirred as if the solonoid was not engaging and there were no interference noises, just a high rpm starter motor whirr. My biggest fear is that the timing belt failed ( 73K miles), but if that were the case, wouldn't there have been some nasty noises? Wouldn't there be nasty noises as I truned the starter motor? Can you think of any possibilities for a sudden shutdown, no warning, no noises, accessories work, solonoid doesn't kick and starter motor whirs? jw

 

If it has no abnormal sounds while cranking (like no compression) the fuel pump is the primary suspect, crack the fuel line loose and have someone crank the engine and see if gas comes out of the fuel feed line.

 

I would guess the timing belt broke and only the lower end is spinning. A broken timing belt sounds like the timing belt is broken when you try to start it (sorry that is the only way I can explain the sound). If you think it sounds like only the starter is spinning most likely that is what's wrong. Pull the top timing cover off to check at the front of the motor.

 

To my untrained ear it sounds like only the starter motor spinning, I heard nothing else no flapping no clanking. It really just sounds like a high RPM electric motor spinning. The car is 120 miles away, sitting at a Audi dealer in Beaverton Oregon cueing up to be diagnosed, so I cannot easily take a look. Incidently, how long does it take to remove the cover tocheck the timing belt?
1) If the starter motor was turning only the bottom end, wouldn't the pistons hit some of the valves, and wouldn't there be associated clatter? Wouldn't the stater motor encounter some resistance?
2) If it were a problem with the starter, what would account for the engine suddenly shutting off while at freeway speed?

jw

 

It take maybe 2 min. to take off the cover.

1.In my opinion what you dscribe sounds like the broken timing belts I have heard (I do not work on Audi's)

2. It's not the starter.

 

^^^^+1, if it sounds like just the starter is spinning, the timing belt snapped. Pull the timing cover and check the cam gear while cranking, if it isn't turning then you gotta pull the head for valve damage.

 

The car is ~140 -- 150 miles away. If it needs major work, I would prefer to have it close to home, and I would prefer not to deal with a dealer service department. My experience with an Audi dealer is limited, but I was not impressed. More shine and polish, polish, and $ than substance.
1) How do you DIY tow a Quattro car? Do you need to leave all four wheels on the ground?
2) Can anyone recommend a good, fair, and reasonable 1.8t mechanic in the Tacoma, WA region?
3) Anybody have anything good/bad/ugly to say about the service department at Sunset Audi Beaverton, OR?
jw

 

You should tow a quattro vehicle on a flatbed truck, never have two wheels spinning even if its in neutral.

 

I also know 2kS4 lives near there, send him a pm for any assistance on a local mechanic.

 

What are the chances of avoiding valve damage or other damage when a timing belt snaps at freeway speed, and your wife leaves it in gear (manual transmission?

What kind of money should I be budgetting for reapirs best case to worse case?

jw