hard to start on cold days

[profitschild]

anyone ever have problems with their s4 starting on cold days?
it starts easy on warm or hot days but its been really cold here the last few months and i have to sit with the ignition on for 10-20 minutes and i still have start it 5 or 6 times b4 it turns over

[Lucca M]

When did u last time replace fuel filter?

[JimmyBones]

anyone ever have problems with their s4 starting on cold days?
it starts easy on warm or hot days but its been really cold here the last few months and i have to sit with the ignition on for 10-20 minutes and i still have start it 5 or 6 times b4 it turns over

Yep. Sounds like your starter is going.

Mine finally died on me during a snow storm.

[surfer1037]

May be your cars coolant temp sensor, if you can get a vagcom on it I would bet your cars reading operating temp when the engine is cold

[Guitarmageddon]

May be your cars coolant temp sensor, if you can get a vagcom on it I would bet your cars reading operating temp when the engine is cold

Can you elaborate on this? Who else here has consistent readings on what operating temp is on this car? 90c? 100c?

[jvitelli17]

+1 for elaboration, it sounds like fuel filter or fuel pump. My starter is giving me the 1 second delay and i know i need to replace it but just spent $1000 in random parts so saving up some coin but going to do it. This doesn't sound like the case, is the motor trying to turn over but failing to start? do you crank the ignition and hear nothing, something?

[profitschild]

i'll have the fuel filter checked.
when i turn the ignition and push the clutch in theres nothing. after i do it a few times then it starts.

[TarlCabot]

could be just a bad clutch switch

[jvitelli17]

i'll have the fuel filter checked.
when i turn the ignition and push the clutch in theres nothing. after i do it a few times then it starts.

im going with our crappy starter solenoids. If its fine in warm weather but a PIA when its cold, times for a new guy!

[DustinBartlett]

I also had this problem, started last winter as a delayed start (maybe 3-5 seconds) but only happened a couple of times so it wasn't too concerning. During the summer I had no issue but beginning on the first couple of cold fall mornings it began to act up slowly increasing is starting difficulty. It finally got to the point of resorting to doing all the crazy stuff ( SLOWLY engaging the clutch, playing with the plug on pass. side) and just walking away and coming back later. During this whole period I had been looking into the issue and seemed to find that most people found it to be starter related. I was planning on doing a huge service anyways so while the engine was out of the car I had the starter replaced. PROBLEM SOLVED, for me at least. I hadn't been able to start my car on days where the temp was in the 30'sF and just the other day at -5F it fired up no delay. SO, what I noticed during the year of delay start...
-cold weather made the issue worse
-once started for the day no further starting delays
-problem increased over time (obviously)
-engaging clutch very slow seemed to help(Witch Magic?)
-playing with plug also seemed to help(See above^)
-could hold key over for 20-30+ seconds multiple times in a row no fire, walk away, hr later come back and fire with no delay

I saw a lot of conversation about starter vs. clutch switch being the issue and because I was planning a major service that would require no additional charge for starter install I decided to go ahead and replace it. My mechanic told me he saw no corrosion on the starter plug or ground and with the issue fixed I'd have to assume it was something with the starter.

[ZP_S4]

i'll have the fuel filter checked.
when i turn the ignition and push the clutch in theres nothing. after i do it a few times then it starts.

I had the same issue, the colder it is outside the harder it is to start. Your starter motor is going bad. I had mine replaced recently and no more problems. Partsgeek had a good deal on a refurb starter.

[d.v.]

This has to do with the starter solenoid. The cold weather is hindering its ability to engage. When you turn the key to start, electricity will heat up the selonoid and it engages at which point the car starts. Depending on your starter's age and current condition will dictate how long or short you have to wait. Google "s4 start delay" and you will get lotsa hits. It's pretty common.

You can't just change the selonoid, you have to change the whole starter. About $500 cost at the dealer. The starter is $2-300.

Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk HD

[JrooseS4]

I had a starting issue with mine. First I replaced the starter which worked for a while and then it came back. I ended up replacing my coolant temp sensor (because my coolant temp gauge wasn't reading right, and I have heard it can affect a cold start). I went a few weeks and then I had the issue again. I changed the crank shaft position sensor and has been 100% now. Those sensors are sort of hard to reach but mine looked like they went through a toaster at 85,000 miles. I would recommend changing those sensors first before the starter which can be expensive. ECT sensor is only like 15 bucks and crankshaft position sensor was like 150 for a bosch one.

[JrooseS4]

This has to do with the starter solenoid. The cold weather is hindering its ability to engage. When you turn the key to start, electricity will heat up the selonoid and it engages at which point the car starts. Depending on your starter's age and current condition will dictate how long or short you have to wait. Google "s4 start delay" and you will get lotsa hits. It's pretty common.

You can't just change the selonoid, you have to change the whole starter. About $500 cost at the dealer. The starter is $2-300.

Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk HD

I would reckon that getting the starter replaced at the dealership would run you at least $1,200 +. My shop quoted me 1100 but the starter was the original Audi one at 800 I think. I bought the ECS one for a 150 and took care of it in a few hours with my buddy and a lift.

[co03s4]

I had the delayed start issue in my '07 RS4 - the longer it sat in the garage in the winter, the longer it took before the starter would crank. Sometime 5-10 minutes of turning the key and holding for 10-15 seconds (maybe 6-12 attempts). Eventually it would crank and fire right up - then the rest of the day it would crank immediately, after it was "unstuck".

One day I got frustrated with the process, pushed the car back to get it rolling backwards down the driveway, and popped the clutch to "kick start" it - lo and behold, have NOT had the delayed start problem since! I was just going to deal with this "nuance" until I had that part of the engine opened up for something else as I wanted to avoid a $1,000 starter replacement...

The car just sat in the garage for 5 days during our recent snows and 30 degree temps - fired right up this morning.

Just thought I would pass this on in the event anyone else wanted to see if the act of a reverse kick start somehow frees up the "sticky" starter/solenoid.