Audi80 not starting - PLEASE HELP!!! - Page 23

Hanuman · 21-03-15, 01:06 PM

Find the siren. Probably in the engine compartment, or scuttle area.
Check if it really is disconnected. So far, you've established that they don't actually do anything that they say they will.

With cars of this age, it really does pay dividends to know where everything is, and what it looks like. Trust no one.

leggy · 21-03-15, 01:32 PM

On this occasion, they did actually disconnect the siren The Real MSH!, not that they told me that they'd done it, only found out and later questioned its removal when horn didnt work one day! Found it chucked in my spares box in the boot, and the wiring for it in engine compartment is just wrapped around the fixing bracket.

Hanuman · 21-03-15, 01:56 PM

If this were me, now. I would

1. Fit the new battery.
2. Monitor how things are going. How frequently did problems occur before? Or what was the approximate time between problems? Days, weeks?
3. Reinstate items like alarm bits, once confidence has been restored somewhat.
4. Monitor how things are going.

It's the wrapped up ends, stuff dumped in the boot, jobs not done as discussed crap that has me doing as much work myself, as is possible. Even some of the more respected people have let me down so badly in the past, and when you don't know what has been done by others, it just adds to potential issues.

Good luck

leggy · 21-03-15, 03:08 PM

1. new Varta WET battery should be here Monday/Tuesday

2. with so many different spec Ah CCA batteries these past 4-5yrs, hard to say, but current one appears to have same pattern as previous; fitted Nov 2013, non-starts in July 2014 (8mths)/Dec 2014 (5mths)/Feb 2015 (2mths), tested/deemed unserviceable March 2015 (1mth) - so months rather than days/weeks.

That said, once the battery has discharged the once, it's usually goes flat again if I leave my car for more than 2 days!
3. will be reconnecting siren between 7th April and 11th April; connecting it sooner will just give the VW/Audi specialist a headache whilst they’re fixing the more pressing problems, which in turn will put an unnecessary drain on the new battery; without horn it will fail MOT for sure!

4. defo

Ditto that The Real MSH!...
That said, having spoken with the boss man of the VW/Audi specialists a few times now, he has at least put my mind at ease in so far as taking it there because not only has he been in business and repairing Audi's for 35yrs, but he also has a better understanding of my car/engine than all of the other previously used garages put together, and that's saying something!

leggy · 22-03-15, 07:39 PM

Just thought I'd share this:

A loose connector! - no doubt pulled out by 'The Unreliables' when they disconnected my siren, again without telling me! Good job I spotted it now really cuz I'd have been at a complete loss with my horn not working when I do reconnect the siren!

I'm assuming that the black connector with brown wire just clips on to the gold bracket with the hole? (can't find anything else to clip it too!)

Hanuman · 22-03-15, 07:55 PM

Yes, that is the horn wire. Or rather, the switch wire for the steering wheel horn switch.

And that raises a question- did the unreliables disconnect the alarm horn/siren, or the vehicle horn? Worth checking, because it sounds like those guys may have difficulty feeding themselves, let alone something technical.

It brings to mind a rather frustrating time I had dealing with some of the local ground staff when I was based in Asia. Each day, you would have to effectively train them all over again, because they didn't have the capacity to learn; but they would always swear blind that this or that has been done, until we proved otherwise.

leggy · 22-03-15, 08:44 PM

Okay, bonnet up, coolant filler tank top right, bracket for horn below and to the left, this is what used to hold the OE horn, and when alarm was installed, OE horn was disposed of and the alarm siren replaced it, so I'm assuming that it is a horn/siren.
I don't need to check to know that 'The Unreliables' have disconnected the alarm horn/siren component because I can see that the bracket is empty with the connector wires wrapped around it and the horn/siren bit is still in my boot spares box. A little surprised by the pulled switch wire for the steering wheel horn switch though, that's certainly raised a lot more questions than the one's you have asked, like what else have they done to my car and not told me!!!

leggy · 07-04-15, 07:18 PM

>BATTERY NEWS
I've had absolutely no joy with 'The Unreliables' or their supplier ECP with regards to the old Lion battery, so having spent quite sometime yesterday (06/04/15) compiling a letter to Trading Standards to explain everything that I have had to deal with this past year or so, I posted said letter to them today, so basically, it's now in their hands.
I also fitted a new Varta WET battery on 24/03/15.

>HORN UPDATE
I'm happy to report that the VW/Audi specialists have managed to find my previously 'thought to have been discarded' horn (sorry The Real MSH!). It was hidden away within one of the front wings somewhere, so by simply reconnecting the aforementioned loose wire/switch again this afternoon, it's now working.

>FAULT CODES
The VW/Audi specialist have also pulled some fault codes from my 80's on-board computer (located behind the glove box somewhere!), the main one being the coolant temperature sender which is stuck at a reading of -40 degrees, and the likely cause of my car not starting within the first 10mins of turning the engine off. They have also said that the on-board computer is unlikely to be causing any power drain issues due to it being very basic, as in it doesn't perform regular checks.
In any case, replacement of said sender is now high on my 'to do' list.

In the meantime, I'll continue to monitor the start-up/power drain issues, and will keep you posted with any updates in due course.

dansp1 · 23-04-15, 06:15 PM

Any updates on this?

would love to know how to cure my typ44

colm9944 · 23-04-15, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dansp1

Any updates on this?

would love to know how to cure my typ44

This may not be of any use but I had serious power drain issues with my current a80, couldn't open my boot one night and crawled in to find the boot light on constant. Disconnected the light and no issues four and half years later.

21-03-15, 01:06 PM	#221
Hanuman Trickster Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Heckling from the cheap seats, Phnom Penh, KoW Posts: 7,018	Find the siren. Probably in the engine compartment, or scuttle area. Check if it really is disconnected. So far, you've established that they don't actually do anything that they say they will. With cars of this age, it really does pay dividends to know where everything is, and what it looks like. Trust no one. __________________ I wish they would keep the damned Chinese away now that I can go home, so that I can enjoy Fish amok and a draught Angkor

21-03-15, 01:56 PM	#223
Hanuman Trickster Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Heckling from the cheap seats, Phnom Penh, KoW Posts: 7,018	If this were me, now. I would 1. Fit the new battery. 2. Monitor how things are going. How frequently did problems occur before? Or what was the approximate time between problems? Days, weeks? 3. Reinstate items like alarm bits, once confidence has been restored somewhat. 4. Monitor how things are going. It's the wrapped up ends, stuff dumped in the boot, jobs not done as discussed crap that has me doing as much work myself, as is possible. Even some of the more respected people have let me down so badly in the past, and when you don't know what has been done by others, it just adds to potential issues. Good luck __________________ I wish they would keep the damned Chinese away now that I can go home, so that I can enjoy Fish amok and a draught Angkor

21-03-15, 03:08 PM	#224
leggy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 1,650	1. new Varta WET battery should be here Monday/Tuesday 2. with so many different spec Ah CCA batteries these past 4-5yrs, hard to say, but current one appears to have same pattern as previous; fitted Nov 2013, non-starts in July 2014 (8mths)/Dec 2014 (5mths)/Feb 2015 (2mths), tested/deemed unserviceable March 2015 (1mth) - so months rather than days/weeks. That said, once the battery has discharged the once, it's usually goes flat again if I leave my car for more than 2 days! 3. will be reconnecting siren between 7th April and 11th April; connecting it sooner will just give the VW/Audi specialist a headache whilst they’re fixing the more pressing problems, which in turn will put an unnecessary drain on the new battery; without horn it will fail MOT for sure! 4. defo Ditto that The Real MSH!... That said, having spoken with the boss man of the VW/Audi specialists a few times now, he has at least put my mind at ease in so far as taking it there because not only has he been in business and repairing Audi's for 35yrs, but he also has a better understanding of my car/engine than all of the other previously used garages put together, and that's saying something! Last edited by leggy; 22-03-15 at 07:40 PM.

22-03-15, 07:55 PM	#226
Hanuman Trickster Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Heckling from the cheap seats, Phnom Penh, KoW Posts: 7,018	Yes, that is the horn wire. Or rather, the switch wire for the steering wheel horn switch. And that raises a question- did the unreliables disconnect the alarm horn/siren, or the vehicle horn? Worth checking, because it sounds like those guys may have difficulty feeding themselves, let alone something technical. It brings to mind a rather frustrating time I had dealing with some of the local ground staff when I was based in Asia. Each day, you would have to effectively train them all over again, because they didn't have the capacity to learn; but they would always swear blind that this or that has been done, until we proved otherwise. __________________ I wish they would keep the damned Chinese away now that I can go home, so that I can enjoy Fish amok and a draught Angkor Last edited by Hanuman; 22-03-15 at 07:58 PM.

07-04-15, 07:18 PM	#228
leggy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 1,650	update time >BATTERY NEWS I've had absolutely no joy with 'The Unreliables' or their supplier ECP with regards to the old Lion battery, so having spent quite sometime yesterday (06/04/15) compiling a letter to Trading Standards to explain everything that I have had to deal with this past year or so, I posted said letter to them today, so basically, it's now in their hands. I also fitted a new Varta WET battery on 24/03/15. >HORN UPDATE I'm happy to report that the VW/Audi specialists have managed to find my previously 'thought to have been discarded' horn (sorry The Real MSH!). It was hidden away within one of the front wings somewhere, so by simply reconnecting the aforementioned loose wire/switch again this afternoon, it's now working. >FAULT CODES The VW/Audi specialist have also pulled some fault codes from my 80's on-board computer (located behind the glove box somewhere!), the main one being the coolant temperature sender which is stuck at a reading of -40 degrees, and the likely cause of my car not starting within the first 10mins of turning the engine off. They have also said that the on-board computer is unlikely to be causing any power drain issues due to it being very basic, as in it doesn't perform regular checks. In any case, replacement of said sender is now high on my 'to do' list. In the meantime, I'll continue to monitor the start-up/power drain issues, and will keep you posted with any updates in due course.

21-03-15, 01:32 PM	#222
leggy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 1,650	On this occasion, they did actually disconnect the siren The Real MSH!, not that they told me that they'd done it, only found out and later questioned its removal when horn didnt work one day! Found it chucked in my spares box in the boot, and the wiring for it in engine compartment is just wrapped around the fixing bracket.

22-03-15, 07:39 PM	#225
leggy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 1,650	Just thought I'd share this: A loose connector! - no doubt pulled out by 'The Unreliables' when they disconnected my siren, again without telling me! Good job I spotted it now really cuz I'd have been at a complete loss with my horn not working when I do reconnect the siren! I'm assuming that the black connector with brown wire just clips on to the gold bracket with the hole? (can't find anything else to clip it too!)

22-03-15, 08:44 PM	#227
leggy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 1,650	Okay, bonnet up, coolant filler tank top right, bracket for horn below and to the left, this is what used to hold the OE horn, and when alarm was installed, OE horn was disposed of and the alarm siren replaced it, so I'm assuming that it is a horn/siren. I don't need to check to know that 'The Unreliables' have disconnected the alarm horn/siren component because I can see that the bracket is empty with the connector wires wrapped around it and the horn/siren bit is still in my boot spares box. A little surprised by the pulled switch wire for the steering wheel horn switch though, that's certainly raised a lot more questions than the one's you have asked, like what else have they done to my car and not told me!!!

23-04-15, 06:15 PM	#229
dansp1 Grown up member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 68	Any updates on this? would love to know how to cure my typ44