By way of quick intro - just joined, motivated to do so by starting problem with my wife's 2006 A4 2.0T Quatro 6-speed.

The car was running fine when I drove it home, no indication of any problems.

However, when I tried to restart it, all that happens is a "whirring" sound as if the starter motor is running, but I detect no solenoid "click", and it doesn't seem as if the the starter motor is engaging the flywheel (no sound as if the motor is being cranked).

I would have thought that the starter motor would not run if the solenoid was not working, but I might be mistaken.

Anybody here have any idea what might be going on?

 

Now forgive me if this proves out to be in error, but it sounds to me the "Bendix" drive (more precisely, the screw drive) mechanisim is either broke or dirty. This would happen on US starters, and occasionally, it was just dirt that caused the problem. It also happened on my son's BMW 3 Series.

So, if you can, before you go buy a new starter, take a garden hose to the end of the starter that attaches to the flywheel housing and give it a good blasting. Try to get into the drive mechanisim as much as possible.

BTW, this happens most often in winter, especially to cars that aren't washed in an automatic wash that offers undercarrage wash for some time. If you are washing the car by hand or with a spray wand, it just doesn't get that part.

Good luck

 

dead battery?

 

Not dead, the starter motor certainly runs. However, the battery is ~5 years old, so I cannot rule out that it is getting weak.

One thing that I may have errant in omitting is that there is an indicator icon showing at the upper-left on the dash. It is a yellow representation of the engine with a lighting-bolt through it. I had assumed that it was showing because the key was on, but the engine (and thus, alternator) was not running.

Could it be an indication of an electrical system problem – perhaps a dying battery?

Anyway, discovered the problem last night, and haven’t had the time to really get into it yet.

I’ve gotten other responses (elsewhere), most of which suggest electrical system or starter motor issue, but of some disconcert have been those questioning if the engine has seized.

I would expect that if the engine had seized, the starter motor would have engage the fly-wheel, but produced a horrific noise (or that tell-tale hum of a stuck electric motor)? Any thoughts on that possibility? It doesn’t make sense to me that the engine would have seized without some indication of heat or oil pressure issues.

 

Don't know about the starter, but you might want to get the battery replaced anyway. My original battery died without any warning when it was 4 and a half years old. No fun trying to find someone to jump you when it happens at an inconvienient time. Sometimes you start noticing sluggish starting when the battery is about to die othertimes not.

 

the battery could be dying - try to start it with a jump to rule that out.

Also can you push start if you have a convenient hill nearby?

I would say its either the battery, or more likely the starter throwout is not throwing out, due to dirt/dust or breakage etc. Jump/push should rule one or both out.

 

I would try a few different things. If you have a battery charger then put it on for a few hours and then start it. If you don't then jump the battery and see if it starts. If it does then take it to an auto parts store and have them do a "load test" to see if the battery is bad. If so then replace it. Also if you have a volt meter check the voltage and see what you have. It should be around 12V without the car running. If it isn't the battery then I would consider checking out the electrical system before replacing the starter. It may just end up being the starter solenoid. Let us know and good luck.