I own an 1990 Audi V8.

Just recently my starter went A-wall and has left my v8 sitting in my driveway for the last week. Today I removed the starter, had it fixed, and re-installed. While I was under the car, I changed the oil, and replaced the oil filter.

I turned the key, and the car didn't start. It tries to turn over. The starter is turning the engine, but the engine seems to be dragging to the point it wont even run.

So I took a look at the distributer, and yes, I had spark. Scratched my head for a minute, then had my dad try to figure it out. He tried to start it, and turned the key. Still it stumbled, and wouldn't fire. He gave it some gas, and tried again, and it started. However it was making a horrible screeching noise, and started smoking like crazy.

My guess: timing belt, or something to that fashion that would keep 4 cylinders from firing. That and now my timing belt is burned and or wrapped up in the gears ect.

So tomorrow I will begin tearing my car apart.

What do you guys think?

Thanks,
Blake Miller

When was the last time you replaced the distributor cap and rotor? I had a similar problem several years ago and it turned out to be the rotor in the distributor on the left cylinder bank.

Have you confirmed that the TB broke by pulling the drivers side inspection cover?

If the TB did brake, the car would not start period. But be very glad it didn't.

Depending on how attached you are to the car already, looks like a TB service is in order, problem here is if you only put a blet on to make sure that everythings "okay" you'll kick yourself for not doign the rest of it.

That said, if you do the rest of it and it's not okay, you'll kick yourself harder.

If it were me, I'd buy one of the many PT engines that are floating around out there right now and swap it in and be done with it, that is of course that you are goign to keep the car.

Good Luck.

the starter gear needs to be a specific distance from the flywheel, otherwise the gears bind and the starter will struggle. the smoke could have been the one way clutch in the starter that allows it to briefly spin backwards while the starter is retracting.

its a small solenoid that controls the extension and retraction of the starter gear. once the engine starts to run on its own, it will spin the starter gear backwards and fry that clutch if its not released from the flywheel. to clarify, the 'clicking' thats heard when trying to start a car with a weak battery is the sound of the starter gear extending and retracting.

if it ran correctly before the starter replacement, dont stray to unrelated areas such as a timing belt (although plugs, wires, cap and rotors arnt a bad idea). stick to whats directly related to the last service performed on the car

good luck!!

Thank you guys for all your help. I have decided to go along with ripping apart my engine :(. I'm going to replace the timing belt, rollers, idlers, ect, along with the timing chains.

I figured even if the TB isn't broke, its been 19 years and about time its replaced. That and it could only help but point me in the direction of the real problem.

Asked around locally and many people seemed to think I lost one of the timing chains. Which would make sense because the engine seems to be dragging 4 cylinders, and that points to the timing chain.



I'll keep you guys updated.

Thanks Everyone!

A quick check to see if the timing belt or chains broke is to do a compression check on each cylinders. If compression is low on one bank of cylinders then you know that there is something wrong with that bank. I highly doubt that the timing belt broke since the car still starts.

If one of your cam chains was broke the motor would be dead!

I have a question ;-)

Were was the smoke comming from?
& the squeeling was prolly comming from the serp belt. Did you get any fluids on it?

Water pump is seized/seizing. Cam chains breaking would cause no start and bent valves. Could be the starter is stuck, but that wouldn't explain the 'dragging'. I have seen seized water pumps take out timing belts quickly. Pull the covers and look at the back side of the timing belt.

Scott J

I agree with 500Q86, try loosen the starter bolts a few turns, disconnect coil wire (so it don't start and turn it (starter) over and listen.