1.8T won't start HELP!!

[Quay]

I am having trouble getting my A4 to start, when I turn the key all I get is the sound from the attached video. I have a 1999 audi A4 quattro 5-speed with 242xxx miles, new turbo, water pump, and timing done at 239xxx. A little backstory, I was data logging one day on a pretty mild tune just to get familiar with the maestro software and out of nowhere the oil light flashed on and the car abruptly shut off. I pulled off to the side and tried to start it which did not work. This was about a month ago and since then I have reverted back to stock other than the intake and exhaust. Before this instance the car ran amazing for it's age. I have replaced the ECU with a stock 557P thinking the tuning had something to do with it and I have replaced the starter as it had sounded like the starter solenoid had gone. I have been looking through forums trying to find anyone with a similar problem to mine with no luck, any suggestions or directions to a forum post of similar nature is appreciated.

[Cybersombosis]

Sounds like you don’t have any compression. Check to see if the timing belt is intact. If it is, do a compression test and report back.

[cactus_cars]

Sounds like you don’t have any compression. Check to see if the timing belt is intact. If it is, do a compression test and report back.

I agree. Doesn't sound like any compression at all.

[Quay]

I got to check the front timing belt and it was fine, gonna try and do a compression test and take the valve cover off to check the rear chain tomorrow

[walky_talky20]

Did you check timing marks to see if it's still in time?
Did you crank the starter with the upper t-belt cover removed to make sure everything is actually moving?

One common failure mode is for the teeth to rip right off the belt. In this scenario the belt will *appear perfectly tight*, but it won't actually move the camshaft (ie: its only job).

[Quay]

Did the compression test and nothing. I checked the rear chain and it seemed visually fine, I would assume if that had skipped a tooth there would be some metal rubbing damage or something?? Is there any more in depth way to check everything?

[Quay]

How would I go about cranking the starter? Would I just hand crank the engine or is it something different?

[Cybersombosis]

If the belt is still on then I’m afraid something seized and the teeth at the crank stripped off. I suspect if the low oil pressure light came on, the cam(s) locked up and froze the belt and the teeth stripped off at the crank. Can you confirm the T belt is moving when you crank? Have someone crank the engine over while you watch the timing belt as Walky suggested. I suspect it won’t move.

After that it’s time to pull the head off and inspect the damage. Cams will need to come out of the head to inspect what seized. Look for scoring on the cam caps and journals. I suspect there will be some damage there to cause the cams to lock up. Once you confirm the damage, if the damage is beyond repair, it’s unfortunately time to look for a new head.

[Quay]

Will definitely check tomorrow, I was thinking about my plans for this project and was wondering if it wouldn't be a bad idea to pull the engine and doing a refresh of sorts considering mileage? Before this happened I was already planning on pulling it to do gaskets and put some IE rods in and it'll definitely make it easier to do the engine work.

[Cybersombosis]

If something on my engine went, I’d be pulling the head and putting rods in. This is the perfect time to do it for you since you have to pull the head now anyways.

[walky_talky20]

How would I go about cranking the starter? Would I just hand crank the engine or is it something different?

With the key. You turn the key. The starter cranks the engine for you. Unless you are in Russia, then the engine cranks YOU, no starter required. (Walky has jokes).

You would hand crank (or put the car in 5th gear and push it forward a bit) to manually rotate the crankshaft to attain "TDC" marks so you could check the belt or chain timing. The starter cannot stop its rotation with accuracy, so that is when the hand cranking (or hand pushing the entire car!) becomes necessary.

[Quay]

Will definitely check timing marks but I'll probably end up pulling the engine to rebuild anyway, I will keep this thread updated with pics on any damage I find for anyone interested, hoping to find what the cause was