95 tsi awd won't crank

[shortshiftkid]

Alright so I've got a 1995 awd tsi talon. The car runs and drives great. Yesterday I pulled up to a friends house and turned the car off and it wouldn't start after that. So I checked my connections on the battery, tested the battery and it is still good, checked the starter relay, and it still won't start. All electronics come on and work when key is turned on and when I turn the key to start it the only thing it does is make the relay click. Anyone have any advice in where to go from here?

 

[luv2rallye]

This is nearly always a weak battery or loose/dirty cable connections. Remove, clean, and re-tighten both ends of both battery cables.

 

[GRAVEDIGGER]

What did you test the battery with? Hopefully a battery load tester... If you just put a voltmeter on it and saw 12.x volts and assumed it was good, you most likely assumed wrong. You need to load test the battery and if it passes you need to check the connections and all cables. If it doesn't pass you may want to see if it will take a charge and IF it does take a full charge you may then want to check the alternator, as it may be bad.

With a good battery (fully charged) with the engine running you should be seeing 13.5-14.8 volts at the battery, generally speaking, on a good charging system. If you are only seeing 12.x volts at the battery with the engine running the alternator is not up to par.

 

[shortshiftkid]

Alternator is good, I'm getting about 14.2 running. I still need to check my connections on the starter itself again, it's just really hard to get too. And I put my optima batter out of my jeep (I know it's good) and same results

 

[14b_gstky]

I had the same problem.. Clicking noise from under the radio so I used a hot wire ran from battery to push button to starter kinda cheap but it worked for me..

 

[14b_gstky]

Not to say its a permanent solution but you can rule out the battery and starter if it works. I changed starters twice and bought a battery I can't remember what I narrowed it down to but I think it was the starter relay that's under the radio..

 

[shortshiftkid]

Ok, I figured pith that the black wire with the single white connector coming from the starter is unplugged. Do you guys know what that is for and what it plugs into?

 

[95GSTowner]

Ok, I figured pith that the black wire with the single white connector coming from the starter is unplugged. Do you guys know what that is for and what it plugs into?

Thats probably your issue. I believe thats the wire that activates the starter. If that doesn't fix it, is your car a manual? I had this happen to me once and it was the clutch pedal switch not fully pressing in. You can test it by pressing it in with your finger and turn the key or by unhooking the clutch pedal switch and you can start the car without having to push the clutch in. Good luck

 

[shortshiftkid]

This Is the wire I'm talking about. I can't find what it goes too

 

[luv2rallye]

Yes thats the starter signal wire and must be connected. Your connector looks aftermarket (and someone soldered it to the starter post) but it should connect to a black/yellow stripe wire that goes to the starter relay.

 

[shortshiftkid]

Well, after checking all connections and changing the starter, still no crank. I jumped a wire to the starter signal wire from the power side of the relay and it started. So even though the relay was clicking I'm assuming the contacts are bad. Getting a new relay tomorrow and hopefully it works. Thanks for your help!

 

[luv2rallye]

Know that the starter relay operates opposite of what you'd expect. When key is turned to Start, the starter relay is normally closed (provides power to solenoid) but opens (no power to solenoid) if the clutch pedal is not pressed or stock theft alarm goes off. If you don't care about the clutch pedal not having to be pressed or stock theft alarm preventing starter ooperation, connecting the starter relay black-yellow to the red-black bypasses the starter relay (don't need the relay) so the starter solenoid will always get power when key is turned to Start.