I have a 2.0T that sometimes drags a bit when starting the car. It seems to be getting worse with time. A few weeks ago it would only drag every once in a while before starting right up. Now it seems to drag when turning over more often, once every other start. The severity of the dragging also seems to be escalating, to the point now that it might not start up.

I believe it is a starter that is going bad, but not sure. The battery has a good charge on it while the car is off, and while the car is running. I put an amp clamp on the starter cable, and most of the starts were around 180 amps at start up. However, when it would drag real bad the amps would shoot up to around 350 amps at start up. Does anyone here know what the Cold Cranking Amps are on these factory starters?

Should I go ahead and get a starter for the car, and then go from there or do you guys have any other recommendations. Thanks a bunch.

2007 Passat 2.0T