OMG WTF is wrong????

[bNasty]

Alright so the car is a 96 TSI. THe problem is that the car wont start, here are the symptoms. Turn key car will click once as if the starter gear is engaging then nothing. The battery is almost new 12.5 volts across. I took the started out and had it tested at autozone it passed. I read 12.5 volts at the starter. I tested the starter relay and it worked. The starter is getting signal. Im completely stumped. Could it still be the starter thats bad?

 

[Tyeler18]

Have you tried a jumper wire like suggested above? That will tell you a lot here. Just take a wire and go battery (+) to the starter solenoid. That will give the starter straight juice and if it doesn't turn the motor over from there then either your starter is bad or the flywheel has a problem, or you have a bad ground. If it does turn over then you have either a voltage drop issue, or some sort of connection issue.

One thing to check is how corroded is the starter solenoid connector? On my 3g I had a similiar no-start, but it was intermittent. After 3 straight days of diagnosising (which was a real bi***) I found out that the wire connector was corroded and rusty, so I was only getting a good contact when I wiggled the connector. Soldered a new female connector on it and sanded the solenoid point and haven't had a problem since.

 

[xiteamxi]

id try just skipping the solenoid and put -(neg)to the block or starter caseing and +(pos) to the starter side of the solenoid see if it turns over then or spins but doesant turn over starter its not contacting the flywheel or flywheel problem