No Crank below 40 degrees

[TDI Dave]

I have an intermittent no start condition that seems to only occur at temps below 40 degrees. There are no codes stored and all dash lights come on as normal, except it just doesn't crank. I did a manual conversion about 6 years ago and had a Malone stage 1 tune installed at that time. I was assuming it could be something to do with a temp sensor and tried warming up the ones I could find with a heat gun on low heat with zero luck. Once it does start I have never had it act up again until the next morning when it's cold out. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Mozambiquer]

I have an intermittent no start condition that seems to only occur at temps below 40 degrees. There are no codes stored and all dash lights come on as normal, except it just doesn't crank. I did a manual conversion about 6 years ago and had a Malone stage 1 tune installed at that time. I was assuming it could be something to do with a temp sensor and tried warming up the ones I could find with a heat gun on low heat with zero luck. Once it does start I have never had it act up again until the next morning when it's cold out. Anyone have any ideas?

So it doesn't crank at all when it's cold? Do you have to jump it or what?

 

[Vince Waldon]

Because the word "crank" means different things to different people, do you mean that when it's 40F or colder:

- the starter will not turn the engine over

or

- the starter turns the engine over just fine but the engine will not start

 

[TDI Dave]

So it doesn't crank at all when it's cold? Do you have to jump it or what?

The problem has nothing to do with the battery, so jumping it has no effect. When this occurs you turn the key and nothing happens. There are no clicks from the starter solenoid. Just silence. Once it warms up a little outside it starts as if there is no problem and will do so all day long. It just seems to happen first thing in the morning when the temps get below 40. On warmer mornings it starts normally.

 

[Seatman]

The problem has nothing to do with the battery, so jumping it has no effect. When this occurs you turn the key and nothing happens. There are no clicks from the starter solenoid. Just silence. Once it warms up a little outside it starts as if there is no problem and will do so all day long. It just seems to happen first thing in the morning when the temps get below 40. On warmer mornings it starts normally.

When it doesn't start try giving the solenoid on the starter a few taps with a hammer. If that works it'll be the solenoid sticking in the cold for some reason. Possibly a bit worn out.

 

[Mozambiquer]

The problem has nothing to do with the battery, so jumping it has no effect. When this occurs you turn the key and nothing happens. There are no clicks from the starter solenoid. Just silence. Once it warms up a little outside it starts as if there is no problem and will do so all day long. It just seems to happen first thing in the morning when the temps get below 40. On warmer mornings it starts normally.

Ok, that clarifies a bit.

The problem has nothing to do with the battery, so jumping it has no effect. When this occurs you turn the key and nothing happens. There are no clicks from the starter solenoid. Just silence. Once it warms up a little outside it starts as if there is no problem and will do so all day long. It just seems to happen first thing in the morning when the temps get below 40. On warmer mornings it starts normally.

Check and see if you're getting power down to the starter solenoid.

 

[TDI Dave]

There was no power ar the starter, so I bypassed the starter circuit from the ignition and it works. So I must need an ignition switch. It's just very odd that it only acts up when it's cold outside.

 

[Mozambiquer]

There was no power ar the starter, so I bypassed the starter circuit from the ignition and it works. So I must need an ignition switch. It's just very odd that it only acts up when it's cold outside.

There would also be the clutch safety relay which would be more likely.

 

[RexNICO]

The problem has nothing to do with the battery, so jumping it has no effect. When this occurs you turn the key and nothing happens. There are no clicks from the starter solenoid. Just silence. Once it warms up a little outside it starts as if there is no problem and will do so all day long. It just seems to happen first thing in the morning when the temps get below 40. On warmer mornings it starts normally.

I had a similar situation (cold weather, morning - turn key and NOTHING) with an Audi of the same era and holding the key in the start position for 20-30 seconds would some times work. And, as illogical as it may seem, putting a jump pack on it would get it to start. Would be interesting to see if it has the same effect it did for me (& others).

One other thing that made this difficult to diagnose, is once it would start on a given day, it was good to start normally for the rest of that day.

I can't recall what the actual fix was, but I'll see if I can find the old posts.