EPC light and starting issues

[CPar02]

Hi all

Was up in the middle of no where two days ago and had an issue starting the car. I'd press the button and the only thing I'd hear is a single click. Battery had a good amount of power, but I had someone charge the battery jic and after a little bit, I had about half a turnover. Then after that, it started right up. I ended up getting a fault code for the starter i forget the code but it was scanned via odb11

It was a code that said the starter was not working due to something blocking it or a bad connection. I haven't had the chance to even see the starter or know where it is located. Is it near the front right side close to the alternator?

Either way, I had an epc light that night until I got home. Everything else was fine. I drove back and turned off the car then started it right up again and it started fine, even a few times after.

The next day I started it again and it was fine and started right up. Epc light went away.

The following day it started up fine again, then when I went somewhere and tried coming back, it would just click again, with the same code and epc light.

Had to get a push start from a couple helpful strangers and that started it right up, and had no problems again after I went home and it started right up again. Just seems so sporadic how it starts up just fine sometimes then doesn't. Any clues as to what's wrong? I don't think it has to do with my battery. My voltage is fine, and the battery is only 3 years old. Car has 63k miles on it. Any chance the starter maybe got some small pebble in it somehow or maybe just the connection came loose somehow? Is there any ground wires that bolt up against the frame that could be loose off it?

Would love some input. Just very infuriating.

[STXA7]

Hi all

Was up in the middle of no where two days ago and had an issue starting the car. I'd press the button and the only thing I'd hear is a single click. Battery had a good amount of power, but I had someone charge the battery jic and after a little bit, I had about half a turnover. Then after that, it started right up. I ended up getting a fault code for the starter i forget the code but it was scanned via odb11

It was a code that said the starter was not working due to something blocking it or a bad connection. I haven't had the chance to even see the starter or know where it is located. Is it near the front right side close to the alternator?

Either way, I had an epc light that night until I got home. Everything else was fine. I drove back and turned off the car then started it right up again and it started fine, even a few times after.

The next day I started it again and it was fine and started right up. Epc light went away.

The following day it started up fine again, then when I went somewhere and tried coming back, it would just click again, with the same code and epc light.

Had to get a push start from a couple helpful strangers and that started it right up, and had no problems again after I went home and it started right up again. Just seems so sporadic how it starts up just fine sometimes then doesn't. Any clues as to what's wrong? I don't think it has to do with my battery. My voltage is fine, and the battery is only 3 years old. Car has 63k miles on it. Any chance the starter maybe got some small pebble in it somehow or maybe just the connection came loose somehow? Is there any ground wires that bolt up against the frame that could be loose off it?

Would love some input. Just very infuriating.

3 years old even on a 5 year battery could be weak enough to cause issues. these vehicles are high demand on the battery due to all the modules we have going on. my only personal experience with EPC light was difficulty starting, followed by eventual no start. It was solved with new coil packs and sparkplugs. edit: my battery gave up when i was at a drive-through once with no difficulty starting beforehand, it still had a year left on it's rated life. ( got partial credit on new one )

good luck brother

[CPar02]

Had the issue again and I ran the codes one more time and it had another code for the left motor mount. I had replaced them about a month ago with the 034 motorsports ones with the plugs that run no codes. Somehow the connection was loose so I just fiddled something in there to tighten it down. Has started today with no issues. Crossing my fingers though as this was an easy fix.

So weird that the car refuses to start without that motor mount plugged in. Kinda ridiculous imo but I guess safety first

[Whinny SQ5]

Had the issue again and I ran the codes one more time and it had another code for the left motor mount. I had replaced them about a month ago with the 034 motorsports ones with the plugs that run no codes. Somehow the connection was loose so I just fiddled something in there to tighten it down. Has started today with no issues. Crossing my fingers though as this was an easy fix.

So weird that the car refuses to start without that motor mount plugged in. Kinda ridiculous imo but I guess safety firstI don't think the motor mount connection is your issue. We have codes for both motor mounts on our B8.5 S5 and SQ5 (we're running BFI mounts). They start right up. Did you take your car to a shop for the motor mounts? The starter should be on the passenger side, by the passenger side motor mount. Wondering if it's possible the shop messed up a starter wire.

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[CPar02]

Did the motor mounts myself months ago. Never had an issue starting before. All I can possibly think is the connection was slightly loose, and when going over bumps, either gave a good enough connection to start, or a bad connection to not start. It wasn't plugged in all the way when I checked, and haven't had any issues since. I've checked all the grounds in the area and they're all tight/clean. Starter looked normal too. Haven't gotten any codes since. Will update if I do.

I coult try tomorrow and see if the car won't start if I unplug the connection completely. Maybe they're different for the 034 mounts. Will test tomorrow and see

[CPar02]

Motor mounts was the issue. Just unplugged the connection to the motor mount and the car refuses to start. Plug it back in and voilà: starts right up. Just put zip tie around it. That plug isn't gonna wiggle out anymore.

A word of caution to those who use 034 mounts: make sure they're plugged in tight! Thankfully they're easy to access at least but definitely wouldn't be a fun thing to have happen.

[mahhdd]

Thx for the update.

[Whinny SQ5]

Motor mounts was the issue. Just unplugged the connection to the motor mount and the car refuses to start. Plug it back in and voilà: starts right up. Just put zip tie around it. That plug isn't gonna wiggle out anymore.

A word of caution to those who use 034 mounts: make sure they're plugged in tight! Thankfully they're easy to access at least but definitely wouldn't be a fun thing to have happen.Darn. That's wild. Good to know! Thanks for the update.

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