hi i have a audi a4 quattro 2.8 1997 im pretty car savy by im just about to give up on this audi heres wha happen

last night my friend tried to start my car twice not knowing it was in gear thus causing it to stall, then when i try to start the car nothing happens but we pushed start it and it worked fine

heres what i did i checked all the fuses they all work

checked connection to starter there fine and the starter works alternator

battery is fine but i also have another way of powering the car just incase it died

so now when i try to start the car all the lights come on like they normally do and the fuel pump primes and radio comes on aswell but when i turn it into the ignition nothing happens i dont get no "bad starter" sounds so im at a complete loss here

 

Check into a faulty ignition switch. Is it finally getting cold where you live? (Assuming you're in the States / northern hemisphere that is)

A lot of these odd problems pop up around this time, and then during the first few hot days you will see TONS of posts related to over heating issues.

 

Might be a coolant temp sensor. I live in Australia, in our winter on colder mornings in general I had similar issues, out of no where one morning the car simply didn't want to start. It sat their on the drive way for a few days and everyone was scratching their heads. So a few days later a tried and fire it up and bang out of no where it starts up fine. Ended up changing the coolant temp sensor, seemed to do the job.

 

In reference to the ignition switch, sometimes just taking it out and cleaning any tarnish off of the plugs will do the job. You can put some dielectric grease on the plugs also if you like.

This will only work assuming the switch is operable. I had a similar issue and took the switch out, cleaned it and all was well.

 

What is terminal 50 voltage at the starter when the ignition key is turned to the start position?
Without knowing the answer to that question you will just be throwing parts at you car blindly.

 

Did the clutch switch go bad/break while he was trying to start the car? It could be broken/bad and you would still be able to start the car by push starting it.....but not with the key.

Just confused, so he started the car, meaning he pushed the clutch in, then just let out the clutch while it was in gear?

 

Sounds like you have a problem with the clutch safety interlock switch. The starter should not engage without pressing the clutch pedal.

The switch is on the pedal cluster near the firewall. You will have to remove the interior panel that covers the pedals to access it. There are 5 10mm bolts that hold the panel on iirc. One near the fuse panel, two along the bottom edge near the black part and two behind the plastic plugs in the panel.

To test the switch, jumper the two wires together and try to start your car.

 

Thanks Bshusted for the more detailed answer......

 

That's what I'm here for.