Starter motor problem

[8690q]

Hi,

A few months ago I bought a wee van, the very day I was due to pick up the van the 80 Quattro avant 20v decided to stop working. That wasn't a huge problem as I was putting the van into everyday service and putting the 80 on SORN anyway.

A few months have passed and I need to figure the problem with the 80 out so I can get it started and figure out if I'm keeping it or not.

Basically I pulled into the driveway and turned the car off but then decided that since I was bringing the van home later I'd better leave a bit more space so went to restart the car to move it a few feet and got nothing when the key was turned. I've tried the car on jump leads to another car, another battery and another starter. With the multimeter I can see I'm getting very little voltage to the starter. I removed the lower dash trim and can feel and hear the big relay clicking when the key is turned so I'm assuming the ignition switch and relay are working. I tried tracing the wires past the relay but it gets messy fast under the dash!

Any help appreciated

[rizzono1]

Sounds like a problem I had a while back with my s6 was able to turn key and dash light came on but when I tried to turn key nothing. Turns out the ignition switch had cracked. Had only parked car up for 5 mins.

[andy10v]

What happens if you put 12v to the starter solenoid with the ignition on?

[Greg_S]

Have you checked the ground strap is properly connected and isnt corrodeded

[8690q]

Thanks guys,

Rizzono, was it a part of the ignition switch that can be changed without doing the whole key barrel/steering lock ?

Andy, I don't have jump leads long enough and couldn't find any suitable wire kicking about. The battery in the boot can be a pain sometimes.

Greg, I removed the starter motor when the car stopped working a few months ago and I'm sure it was just the big wire from the alternator and the spade connection I removed from the starter. I'll check tomorrow.

[mdz]

Ignition switch can be changed by removing instrument cluster. Check if you get ~12v on small wire on starter while trying to start it. If not, then it's most likely ignition switch. Just be sure to get the right one because there are two different versions of them.

[Val]

Andy, I don't have jump leads long enough and couldn't find any suitable wire kicking about. The battery in the boot can be a pain sometimes.

You can take "+" from starter itself. It's already connected to battery.

Park car in neutral, turn on ignition, get under the car with small piece of wire, screwdriver or anything usable and connect starter "50" connector with "+".

You just need to check if starter is working.

[Al Wyn]

Have you checked the ground strap is properly connected and isnt corrodeded

Check this...I had one corrode on one of my RS2s