starter issues

robertbrucehutchion · Dec 16, 2016

so here is my story bought a 2000 jetta tdi started fine in summer come winter the starter will rotate the flywheel but then kicks out to soon. so i went and bought another starter and it has the same issue only in cold start so whats going on i have read plenty of post but no real answers when it come to premature starter disengagement .I did read in one post about replacing the starter bushing in the transmission when you change starter but i never did do you think this could be my problem?

extended glow plug time
new glow plug harness
new glow plugs
my pump timing is withing spec but one the advanced side
iq is running at3.2

any help would be great

binky973 · Dec 19, 2016

mine's doing the same thing. my positive connections were loose. check/clean battery and starter clamps and connectors and the big ground connection on the block and battery

Rembrant · Dec 20, 2016

robertbrucehutchion said:
I did read in one post about replacing the starter bushing in the transmission when you change starter but i never did do you think this could be my problem?

Somebody can correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think the starter bushing you mention was used on the Mk4 cars. It was in the engine block, not the transmission. Earlier Mk3 stuff, maybe?

I remember the bushing in question from working on the old VW T4 diesel vans. The bushing was in the block, and it did wear out in grand fashion and cause starting problems. I know VW stopped using these in the diesel vans in the mid to later 1990's.

JETaah · Dec 20, 2016

A4 TDI starter is self-contained ...no external bushing.

stamp11127 · Dec 22, 2016

Worn ring gear on the tc or flywheel.
Low voltage at the starter - low enough that the hold in windings in the solenoid don't hold the pinion gear in mesh.
Poor connection(s) in the starter circuit on the control side. Would have the same effect as turning the key away from start.

binky973 · Jan 15, 2017

i have the same problem. all my connections are good, battery is good, but, i replaced my rotten wire from battery to starter with a larger gauge, could that do it? i forget if the larger gauge, while allowing more voltage to pass, will cause high resistance when a lower voltage is used.... i get about 2-3 engine turns and it kicks off

PB_NB · Jan 15, 2017

Perhaps the ignition switch is worn. I would check there first. They do wear out and get sloppy.

binky973 · Jan 15, 2017

i'll look for a thread to see if they can be cleaned up

TonyJetta · Jan 16, 2017

binky973 said:
...i replaced my rotten wire from battery to starter with a larger gauge, could that do it? i forget if the larger gauge, while allowing more voltage to pass, will cause high resistance when a lower voltage is used.... i get about 2-3 engine turns and it kicks off

Your logic is backwards. A larger wire (cable) will have less resistance, thereby allowing the same amount of current to pass with less voltage drop, making it seem like the engine cranks just perceptively faster.

The starter will draw the same amount of current regardless of wire size, until the wire size is so small it will act as a current limit resistor or fuse and be destroyed.

As you use larger & larger wire, the voltage drop across the wire becomes less and less, until the wire is so large that the voltage drop becomes infinitesimally small.

Tony

UhOh · Jan 20, 2017

binky973 said:
i have the same problem. all my connections are good, battery is good, but, i replaced my rotten wire from battery to starter with a larger gauge, could that do it? i forget if the larger gauge, while allowing more voltage to pass, will cause high resistance when a lower voltage is used.... i get about 2-3 engine turns and it kicks off

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=256705

steve6 · Jan 20, 2017

If your starter is not staying engaged it could be the solenoid going bad, this is one of the things that controls the gear coming out.

sisyphus · Jan 21, 2017

stamp11127 said:
Worn ring gear on the tc or flywheel.
Low voltage at the starter - low enough that the hold in windings in the solenoid don't hold the pinion gear in mesh.
Poor connection(s) in the starter circuit on the control side. Would have the same effect as turning the key away from start.

The answer lies in here somewhere. OP said he replaced the starter so the problem isn't the starter itself or the solenoid since they're one unit.

Pawpaw78 · Jan 15, 2022

Has anyone found out the root issue to this problem?

DivineChaos · Jan 15, 2022

Pawpaw78 said:
Has anyone found out the root issue to this problem?

It can be many things. Start with easiest first. Check/clean power and grounds. Check battery voltage while cranking. (Should be below 10v) pull your starter. Clean the shaft. Check flywheel gear. If your inclined enough you can pull apart the starter and clean and regrease it.

ToxicDoc · Jan 15, 2022

Well since he was last here 3 days after his initial post 5 years ago, I doubt anyone will find the conclusion...

GlowBugTDI · Jan 17, 2022

Pawpaw78 said:
Has anyone found out the root issue to this problem?

What is your car doing exactly?

Mozambiquer · Jan 17, 2022

Pawpaw78 said:
Has anyone found out the root issue to this problem?

It may help if you create your own thread for your own problem. Generally, the issue described by the op is due to a failed starter (especially aftermarket ones) or flywheel, but there are several other things that should be checked.

starter issues

robertbrucehutchion

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binky973

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Rembrant

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JETaah

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