Crap, used the roommates Acetron OBD II scanner, and it came back clean! Not helpful....

And no turbo connections for this V6 that I'm aware of

 

Alright, AAA is on the way. BIG fingers-crossed for a dead battery or another simple, cheap solution.

Quick q, can you confirm where the starter is located? Bolted onto the alternator? Can't find my freakin flashlight either, so I'm having a tough time seeing the inside of the engine. Thanks!

 

Crap, I just realized a big problem....

The AAA guy just showed up with his flat-bed....but it's parked in my garage and the driveway is WAY too narrow for him to pull in. If I can't start it, I have no way of towing it.

I've got an auto tranny...is it possible to push it out the driveway? Assuming that a smaller rig could get into my driveway (and that's a big IF) would it kill the quattro to tow it on two wheels for a few hundred feet?

GRRRRRR

 

put it in nuetral and push it to where you need to. or have some one pull their car in and jump start it with the car.

I bet its your battery, from what you desrcibed. Let us know what it is once you find out.

 

rapid clicking noise could be the following causes- 1) battery discharged. 2) excessive resistance in the system. 3) open in solenoid or movable pole shoe hold-in winding. 4) defective starter motor.
the Cure= 1) recharge or replace. 2) Make voltage drop tests; replace components as necessary. 3) replace solenoid or movable ploe shoe starter. 4) replace starter motor.
Thats truly all the possibilities it could be if the symptoms are clicking or chattering with out engine actually starting. id be surprised if one of the causes werent one of these

 

Acetrebo: winner winner, chicken-dinner!

As it turns out, it was just plain ol' dead battery. Definitely the best possible outcome. AAA jumped it, and it fired right up...and as it turns out, Advance Auto Parts is open until 9:00 on a Sunday! So I bounced right over, bought one for $70 and installed it in the parking lot. The AAA guy recommended "that we bring it to my shop, with that plastic cover over the battery, it'll take at least an hour to install"....bahahahah!

I really thought I was screwed when the CEL came on. And regarding the noise at startup...i've had batteries die on me in other cars, I heard them do the standard "clicking but no turnover" and "engine turns slowly but doesn't start"...but it didn't sound like this. Much more rapid and loud.

So yeah...all is well, thanks for help!

Oh, and Acetrebo...for some reason, i was under the impression that it wasn't possible to move a quattro/automatic like that. Just something good for me to know in case that situation arises again.

 

Glad to hear it was the easy solution!

 

yea good to hear it was an easy fix

 

Glad you got it fixed but...

AUTO IS FOR GIRLS!!! GET A STICK

 

Thanks for the unsolicited feedback on my tranny, Ace. Very helpful. Other people had suggested getting a manual, but nobody had ever written it in bold all-caps before! You've totally opened my eyes!

I don't feel the need to justify the decisions (and compromises) that I had to make when i bought my car to you. Don't post-***** in my thread.