Hello all,

I recently purchased a 2000 A4 1.8. Soon after, while trying to start it, it does nothing. There is a high pitch whine instead of the normal clicking sound and turn-over of the starter and engine.

So my question is, is it just a bad starter?

Forgive my ignorance, but I have never claimed to be a car guy. I called a garage and the guy there told me, believe it or not, to drive it over to him and he would take a look at it, not realizing that I have no way of getting it over to him.

Any ideas would be a huge help, because I don't know what the whine means and I thought at least there should be some kind of clicking sound even if the starter has gone out.

Thank you for any help you can offer.

 

I thought whine was fuel pumps? It sounds like a bad starter soleniod if it wont turn. Thats about as far as I will get helping you out though. =) Good luck. Here's what my friend and fellow Audi enthusiast said to me when I bought my four rings:

"Congratulations on your new Audi! And my condolences."

That pretty much sums it up. =) Its lots of learning.

 

do you have an automatic transmission, or do you have a stick shift?
if its stickshift, get some buddys to give you a push and pop the clutch in first while your rolling it will start.
that will tell you that you have a bad starter and you will be able to drive it to your mechs. shop.

 

Teeter, it is a manual. Again, forgive my ignorance, but what and how will that tell me if it is the starter or not? Lord, I'm stupid.

 

well, if the car starts that way, it goes to show the starter is at fault, if you do it like 10 times and the car does not start, then its obviously something else lol.
but, if you do it right, the car will start and you can make it to you mech shop.
do you have any buddys who are into cars who you can call?

 

Ok, heres an explanation of how Teeter's method works. With the car in gear, the movement of the wheels are connected to the movement of the motor. The starter's job is to use electric power to get the motor moving and start your engine. So since all you need to do to get the car going is get the motor spinning, rolling the car down a hill, or getting a push (while you're in it) and turning the key around 10 or 15mph will start the car when its in gear. If the car starts when you try that, then you know the engine is fine and its the starter's fault.