Audi 80 - does this sound legit?

So I'm in the process of buying an audi 80 tdi as a winter run around, looks in lovely nick, high miles but not showing it.

The guy I'm buying it from seems legit but when I went to collect it it wouldn't start. Dash lights on, battery fine, solenoid clicking but nothing not even turning over. I left with him saying he'd call the AA.

Now here's the thing, he texts me today to say that he's sorted it and that it was: "starter motor, small pulley".

I will ask him to show me what he's done when I go again, but does that sound like a legitimate diagnosis, I'm a totally in the dark so would appreciate any knowledgable advice.

It doesn't sound right but is it just him innocently trying to explain something the AA man told him, or an attempt to cover something up? I suspect the first. Its either a flat battery or dodgy starter motor or its wiring. If it makes or breaks the sale, its up to you, but you could haggle on the price if its flexible? Was it an eBay auction you won (in which case, unless misdescribed, you have no right to haggle) or outside of it? Are you now put off the car? Would you take it on with the fault, and fix it? Are there other faults too, which you've discovered since seeing it in the flesh? etc

Thanks Paul, he was convinced it was the battery, we had jump leads on the car and eventually he took me to Halfords to pick up a new battery, which he paid half of, which I think was fair because I would have put a new one in anyway.

It doesn't really put me off the car to be honest, because it's been well looked after and has all the paperwork to back that up. It seems genuine and I got it for a good price (not off ebay for a change!).

Still, his vague response sounded suspicious I don't know why, but you're right he might just be relaying something the AA man told him, although he told me he was a qualified engineer, rebuilt the front of his 8 Series etc.  I've heard of the ignition barrels going on similar aged VAG's (my mate had the same issue with a passat) which are only about £60 and a DIY job so not too worried.

I had to replace the starter motor on my 80 a couple of months ago, its done 107k. If i remember correctly from my own research, you can open them up and replace/service bits and it seems to be quite commonly done but its a huge amount of faf when a complete starter motor from a scrap yard is only £50-60.

The AA will have given him a copy of the sheet which will include a proper diagnosis hopefully!

Cheers Dave, according to this guy the cause was due to corosion on a rod in the starter motor,as it had been sitting around for a couple of months.  I think a new/recon one will be in order.

At the moment it starts no problem but needs a little tweak of the key to get it right.

To me it feels like it's an issue with the ignition rather than the starter, but I'm far from an expert, I'll probably just do both.

Anyway, it's a lovely motor and just had a very nice cruise up the motorway in it, not being in the slow lane was a bit of a novelty! ;-)

A word of warning.

Dont ever go to Audi for parts for an 80! they just make up a price to avoid doing the work or sourcing the bits! 4 weeks ago I was told I needed a new exhaust mid section mount to pass an MOT as it was missing. the cost of the mount from Audi…..£350 (thats three hundred and fifty) plus fitting!! apparently you cant buy just the mount? I went to unipart and got one for 55 pence!

Took it back to audi for the re-test and all of a sudden it was the back box that was the failure? took it somewhere else and it passed 1st time!

and on a side note……..

Did you notice that the steering becomes really scarily light around the 75-80 mph mark? or is it just mine?