Car won't start

[Maxine78]

Hi we bought a used A3 2008, (1.8 turbo petrol), less than 6 months ago from a trader and the car has now decided it doesn't want to start. We had RAC out yesterday morning and he couldn't get any codes from the car and even a tow start wouldn't get it going. Starter motor was tested and was fine and battery is good too. 

Does anybody have any ideas what it could be? 

Also what can we do legally if the car is dead? Can we go back to the trader? 

Edited January 19, 2022 by Maxine78

[cliffcoggin]

Maxine.

There are hundreds, possibly thousands, of faults that could prevent the engine from starting, so the chances of diagnosing the problem from the tiny amount of information you supplied the forum so far are negligible.

I shall assume the RAC mechanic checked the obvious things like fuel level, fuel pump, relays, coils, EMC etc. Do you have a full service history for the car? What mileage has the car done? Has the car displayed any other unusual symptoms before it failed such as smoke, high oil consumption, low power, high fuel consumption, coolant loss? if you can answer those questions we might, and I stress might, be able to home in on the fault. For a quicker result I suggest you get it diagnosed at a specialist VAG garage or, failing that, an Audi dealer though I must admit I don't have a high opinion of them.

Did the trader you bought it from guarantee it in any way? Was that trader commercial or private? Your legal rights depend very much on precisely what he guaranteed and for how long. Some guarantees only last three months and cover so little that they are not worth the paper they are printed on.

[Maxine78]

4 hours ago, cliffcoggin said:

Maxine.

There are hundreds, possibly thousands, of faults that could prevent the engine from starting, so the chances of diagnosing the problem from the tiny amount of information you supplied the forum so far are negligible.

I shall assume the RAC mechanic checked the obvious things like fuel level, fuel pump, relays, coils, EMC etc. Do you have a full service history for the car? What mileage has the car done? Has the car displayed any other unusual symptoms before it failed such as smoke, high oil consumption, low power, high fuel consumption, coolant loss? if you can answer those questions we might, and I stress might, be able to home in on the fault. For a quicker result I suggest you get it diagnosed at a specialist VAG garage or, failing that, an Audi dealer though I must admit I don't have a high opinion of them.

Did the trader you bought it from guarantee it in any way? Was that trader commercial or private? Your legal rights depend very much on precisely what he guaranteed and for how long. Some guarantees only last three months and cover so little that they are not worth the paper they are printed on.

Hi, no there have been no issues until now, although it's usually my husband who drives it and he hasn't told me of any issues until now. Milage is around 106k.

I've managed to get somebody to come and look at it and he thinks it's the crank sensor but for some reason the diagnostic machines can't get a signal. He has a mu h better one which he'll bring tomorrow to try and diagnose again. 

He said because the car wouldn't start even from a tow start it strongly suggests it's the Crank sensor and that it's nothing mechanical. So we'll see what he says tomorrow. If the diagnostic machine still can't get a signal we'll change the sensor anyway and go from there. 

The dealer was a private one and gave I think 6 months on something hut can't remember what it was, but it was definitely something useless. 

Thanks for your help. 

[cliffcoggin]

A fault on that sensor is consistent with the lack of prior symptoms, so let's hope that solves the problem. Do please let us know the outcome.

Don't be be unduly concerned at the lack of computer diagnosis. Unfortunately code readers are not as reliable as many expect and hope.