A3 1.8T funny noise after turning on!

[hightower127]

Hi all,

need some help on my girlsfriends car!!!

When you turn the ignition n and the car catches - it makes a high pitched squeal which sounds like it coming from a belt type of area??

this has occured after i changed the battery! any ideas?

thanks

Olly

[Waugh-terfall]

My Mazda did that one morning this week, Dad thought it might be the starter motor not disengaging after the key is released because of the cold, but the sound was nothing like the starter motor, I think it's just something to do with the belts and the cold weather

[cardoctormatt]

Does this noise go away after a few seconds. Sound like alternator belt. Why did you change the battery?

[hightower127]

Hi,

the noise does end after a second or two, had to change the battery as it had died!

if the alternator belt,anything that i can do?

[Matt_N]

If its a belt type squeel, high pitched it will be the alternator belt. These are cheap and easy to replace or you can adjust the tension quite easily.

If its more of a metalic sounding squeel it may be the started, think some 1.8T's suffer from a bad solenoid on the starter.

[audi-almeister]

common problems on A3 older versions it will be the starter motor mate .
Very rare the v belts squeal.

Al.

[JKY]

Starter motor. Lots of a3/Golfs do this. If you are handy with a spanner then you can sort it - take the starter out and strip, clean and regrease the gear assembly. Straightforward but not a 5 minute job to remove.

[mat205125]

Agree it's the starter motor. Mine's doing it at the moment, however only very occasionally .... occasionally enough for it to wait until the weather warms up a bit for the car to get up in the air on the drive. Bit of a pants job getting it in and out, but not too bad from underneath - One of the few jobs where the Haynes standard first operation of disconnecting the battery is essential!!!!!

[JKY]

Best way to get to the starter is to take battery and then battery tray out and work from above.

[Rich VRS]

my skoda does this when its cold, nothing important from what i gather and wont cause any damage, just irritating.

[00161wj]

It depends, if its a sticking solenoid causing no disengagement of the motor spindle it will spin at engine speed and could possibly set on fire.

[Rich VRS]

just remembered i meant to post a link to this!!
Screach at startup 1.8t