Hey Guys-

I have a '99 A4 qm 2.8l and lately I've noticed that every once and a while, when I turn the key to crank, there is no crank, but rather the soft sound of the starter spinning and not engaging. I key off and back up, and she starts right up. Now the other day I just hear spinning and she won't start at all. I'm leaning toward a starter solenoid and the bendix sticking, but I'm curious if anyone else has had similar issues.

Thanks in advance!

 

it's probably not your problem but I had an issue of it starting on every 2nd try. On the first time, it would fire up and burble out after a second. Turned out to be the key. If I used the spare copied key, it would always start on the 2nd attempt. If I used the factory key, it would start first go.

 

If your hearing the starter spinning and not the motor your right on target, but the ring hear could be loosing teeth so verify that when you change it.

 

What he said^^^^