Sorry this is my first post here guys but headed here to see if there is any advice from the wealth of knowledge that will be in here.
Long story short, wife’s 2018 Q3 1.4tsi with 65000 miles on click had been running up until Tuesday morning. She drove it home from work on Monday evening and parked it up, no inkling that there was anything afoot.
Tuesday morning we left house at same time, wife comes to my window and said cars not starting. This particular morning was -4degrees so my initial thought was battery issue. Dropped lid of at school and wife at work then back home to have a look.
Jumped in, ignition on and all that should light up appeared to light up so gave it a burl. When ignition turned all I got was a whirring noise, noise you’d expect to hear if there was a starter motor issue, not engaging with flywheel. It was cranking healthy enough so I then discounted battery issue and focussed on it being a starter motor issue. Gave it the usual customary chap with a crowbar incase it was starter solenoid not working. No change, still just a whirring noise. This next bit should have raised suspicion. When you turn ignition against spring and release once whirring starts, let the key back of the spring, the whirring continues until ignition turned off.
I was still convinced this was a starter motor issue so called a mobile mechanic, explained above in my words and he agreed, sounds like a starter issue so he came Thursday with a new starter and changed said starter. Before changing starter he listened to engine and thought starter solenoid issue.
Once starter changed, engine still not starting. Making the same fast whirring noise but mobile mechanic now noted auxiliary belt spinning. Took cambelt cover off and cambelt is still intact and spinning but engine not even attempting to fire. Spark plugs out and smell of fuel, so guess not a fuel issue. No faults showing other than clock spring fault that I know about and is in hand. (New clock spring was fitted Sept 23 and has failed again so waiting to get into Audi so they can start a warranty part repair.) . The thing that worries mechanic is that engine turning over freely, he thinks no compression and also on his diagnostic tool the crankshaft speed sensor is showing no data when engine cranked.
Vehicle last serviced in May this year, cambelt replaced Sept 23.
No obvious loss of oil or coolant, no symptoms prior to Tuesday morning. Anyone experienced similar previously? Is my/wifes engine goosed or is there a sensor that could cause this issue?
Any help much appreciated folks,
thanks in advance, Mark