Starting problem

[motu56]

I have a 99 Q45 with 135K. Occasionally when I turn the ignition key I get nothing. If I try it again it fires up just fine. It starting to happen more frequently. Especially when the car is warm.

[Lokim]

Sounds like a bad starter, particularly the no-start-when-hot.

[motu56]

difficult to remove?

[Lokim]

You gotta remove the power steering rack to get it out. Book time is 3 hrs.

[elwesso]

Honestly sounds more like a starter relay to me. Starter relays fail a lot more than starters do. The starter relay is located on the passenger side near the abs actuator. Take it out and bang it against something or just replace it. I'd try thy before the starter as the starter can be a bit of a pain to get out

[subtle_driver]

they are cheap, get one at Oreily's for like $15

[Lokim]

Good point, fellas, from the easy-to-do standpoint. I still stand by my diagnosis, though. I've replaced more starters than I care to remember due to malfunctions that are heat-soak related or induced...

[Skibane]

On the Y33, there is no "starter relay" per se - Apparently, it was omitted as a cost-cutting measure during the redesign from the G50.

The current flows from the ignition switch through the Park/Neutral transmission selector switch, and then directly to the solenoid mounted on the starter.

My 2000 occasionally does exactly the same thing - and has been for several years. I'm not convinced it's the starter itself, since it spins the very next time I turn the key - Typically, if there's a bad spot on the starter commutator, it won't spin again unless you whack it with a hammer. My prime suspects include the solenoid, and the transmission selector switch.