Hey y'all

I am replacing the starter on my '99 A4 1.8tQ

The only trouble I am having is with the top mounting bolt that connects the starter to the bell housing. I can't seem to find a way to remove it as it is bolted into the bell housing from the rear!

The bottom bolt is screwed in from the front so no problem there.

If anyone has done this repair or can shed some light on how to remove this P.O.S. (piece of s@!t) bolt so that I can get my car on the road that would be awesome!

I have to go to work in the morning!!!

Cheers!

Aaron

 

What's the problem? The only thing i can tell you is use a different length socket or extension on it. With the right tools it'll come out, but the threads are pretty long. Did you get a new starter yet, cuz I have one for sale cheap.

 

Well, the problem is that in the space back there you cannot generate much torque on a ratchet and not enough room for a breaker bar.

I was hoping someone has done this repair and might be able to share with me how they were able to remove the bolt.

And no, i dont need your starter, thanks.

 

So I managed to get the new starter installed.
Now when I turn the key I can hear the starter solenoid click (an improvement) but no start. Not even an attempt to crank.
I have a jump start on the way. I hope it's the battery but if not, anybody have any thoughts on what else might be wrong?

 

You sure you have it hooked up right. 50 post is on the left. Ground obv gets grounded. Pos batt cable goes to bigger post on left iirc. I've done this more than a few times lol

 

Could be that you got the starter gear jammed against something or quite possibly the cables going to the starter motor are not tight.

 

in terms of wiring the starter, the positive wire connects to the top post on the solenoid-self explanatory.

ground gets connected to one of the two posts that stick out of the starter housing and connect to a bracket.

the only thing i have noticed is that there are two posts where the '50' wire can connect to-one on the left and one on the right of the solenoid. It is currently connected to the one on the right side of the solenoid. something tells me they are the same but i will move it over to the other terminal tonight after work and see if thats it.

I do notice that the instrument lights dim slightly when i turn the key to the on position.

i got this replacement starter from advance. I am going to be really upset if they sent me a bum starter.

 

yes it has to be on the left one..

 

Well, I guess when you make stupid mistakes you should own up.

The reason the starter was not working is because I reversed the polarity by connecting the ground to the +12V and vice versa.

The good news is after I rewired the starter works.

The bad news is now I am getting the battery indicator on the dash and I'm not getting an overcharge on the battery as indicated by DVM.

I smoked the alternator, right?

Can't believe I made such a boneheaded mistake...

 

**** happens! We've all been there and done that "Oh wtf was I thinking?" I'm not proud but just to make you feel better when I 1st started working on cars I replaced a alternator starter and battery on my 93 ford ranger. all went real great, when hooking up the battery I noticed it kinda sparked when I put on the cables... I thought nothing of it and just tightened them down. Jumped in excited I was done and can start the truck after all that work, turn the key and all my gauges maxed out and wouldn't start. Turns out in my rush to start it, I put the cables on backwards... fried the starter I just put in and the battery! luckily the battery was brand new and I just said it was defective! But basically we all make stupid mistakes!