leo99

Well today I let my little brother borrow my car to go to church. Then he calls me saying my car isnt staring. so i make it over there and tried jumping it, test the batery, and took out the starter and tested too... and nothing works. Its not even turning over. there is not even a clicking noise when i try to start it. There's also no check engine light on as well. All the lights, radio, and ac works but it just wont start. The car is in the ghetto right now and i am scared that it will be on bricks if i leave it there for any longer. If anybody has any ideas or tips please let me know. I really don't want to leave this beautiful car in such an ghetto place.


Its a lil dirty in this pic...

piggylover1985

What do you mean by testing the battery and the starter and nothing works ? They're all no good ? If there's no click when you try to start it, the starter could be bad.

01tl4tl

did you try the nuetral safety switch override?
Thats the little cover on the right side of the shifter
remove its cover- then, Stick the car key in the slot and push down,
while holding brakes ON
Shift to Nuetral
remove key and try to start

any light like Brake LAMP on the dash?

01tl4tl

if its a 99 the ignition switch back part goes bad,,usually makes the engine cut out and all the dash lights come on for a second while you are driving- then returns to normal running!

01tl4tl

on the starter test- what did you do??
hook it up to jumper cables while removed from the engine--saw no movement of its gear or felt no jumping,, as it tried to move but was stuck?

totaledTL

Ignition immobilized because key is bad? Green key indicator light works?

leo99

I took them out and had a guy at the auto parts store test them for me.

leo99

But my brother wasn't driving. It was parked when he couldn't turn it on.

leo99

Yes. The starter worked. I took it to numerous auto parts stores and they did the starter test on them. all said it is good. But it never gave me any problems starting before.

leo99

Yes. It blinks after i take the key out of the ignition.

jdjohn84

Sounds like ignition switch, but they are usually intermittent instead of totally dying.

totaledTL

Check all fuses.
Is it a '99? If so was the ign. switch replaced, & when? Lots of people on here have reported ign. switch problems w/ that yr. model.

01tl4tl

I know the ignition switch prob often occurs while driving--and no reason it cant quit while its parked!!!

Do you have many keys on the key ring?

the nuetral safety bypass trick will allow it to start if its an interlink problem or bad brake light switch

but the description sure sounds like it begins at the key

01tl4tl

99s had a recall on the switch, and other years seem to use the same/similar part but we dont hear about failures

Mr. Maker

iTrader: (4)

so your brother goes to church in the ghetto..?

i would just get my car towed to a shop..

fsttyms1

sounds like a ignition switch. Did you check the fuses?

leo99

I am going to check out the ignition switch today and try the neutral safety switch override today. hopefully it works. And yes my brother goes to church in the ghetto.

smartypants

Hi Leo :

I also have a "99".

Are you getting the "Christmas Tree" light test when you turn the key ?

You should also look into the shifter lockout. It sounds like power is getting to the car but that the starter is being prevented from turning....which sounds like a lockout. Someone recommended to use the shifter unlock to test this and I fully agree.

If the green key light is flashing, that means the key is "out" but the immobilizer is detecting the chip inside the key head. If your ignition switch is bad, it will flash when the key is in the lock and when you turn it.

Hope your problem gets resolved....

smartypants

leo99

Hey guys, I am glad to say that the neutral safety bypass trick worked .it took about 30 seconds to do. I just wish i knew this yesterday when i spent all day trying to fix it. Just one question... What will cause this to happen?

01tl4tl

failure of the nuetral safety switch

failure of a brake light bulb--thats why I asked if ALL the brake lights work

its a safety system

01tl4tl

the shifter override trick is in the owner book

piggylover1985

Oh really, if the brake light bunt out than you can't start the car ? I learn something new every day.

finalcross

iTrader: (3)

really? but how come? I don't even have to step on my brake to turn on the car so is that like a saftey thing?

jdjohn84

I had to replace a brake light bulb awhile ago; the indicator lamp in my dash told me it was out, and I found the bad bulb and replaced it. But I was always able to start the car for the few days it was out.

leo99

I Checked all of my lights and they are all fine. But i just realized my AC isnt turning on at all... Probably a fuse i didn't put back in all they way.

ANC297

iTrader: (2)

I dont think its the bulbs...On the type s's a brake lamp indicator comes on when you have a burnt out brake light...
When I needed to use the override, it was because of a bad brake switch, which tells the computer that the brakes are being pressed...

01tl4tl

you can start the car without the brakes on-

but you cant shift out of park--brakes must be pressed - so the brake switch may be loose or bad

ck the DIY Garage section for more info

yes, the brake Lamp light should come on if there is a bad bulb....
assuming the warning light isnt burnt out~

jdjohn84

So a burnt-out brake light bulb does not cause the problem...it is a bad brake light switch. Right?

leo99

I changed my brake light switch and everything is good for now. Ill keep you guys updated if this was not the prob.

leo99

well this morning it happened again!!! It took me 3 tries to start my car. I already changed the brake light switch with a brand new one. What can it be???

01tl4tl

what do you mean- to start the car
Is it turning over, or not allowing starter to do anything?

the alignment of the brake switch to its contacts can be bad, not telling the car the brakes are applied,, so it wont go to Reverse

or the nuetral safety switch is bad--again thats a gear shifter movement issue

Your car is not starting at all-
if you wiggle the key is it better?
Are there several keys on the ring?
Are you going to replace the ignition switch back as many asked early in the diagnosis?
that is a 99??

Does it start on the first try if you use the safety override method or still tough to start

Im going with ign switch

01tl4tl

just to refersh your memory-and for noobs
99s have a recall for a free ignition switch back
acura replaces it once then next 3 times it fails in the cars life- is on the owner
simple diy after shop does it first time
part under fifty dollars at parts stores everywhere
it appears ( I have no proof) the same part may have been used for other years but didnt get a recall

Can one of our oe vendors clarify this?

if not sure it was done, call `acura care` with your cars VIN at 1-800-382 2238 x5 gets a human
register as the owner and ask if any OPEN recalls- that means not done
even if ign sw was done its a likely failure again

everyone needs to register there- thats who sends out recall notes to last known owner address
we have a new recall for airbag inflator that has `low response rate for customers coming in`- ck if your car is part of that
the airbag deploys too fast!!

leo99

I have not called the dealership yet but i will do that sometime today. Thanks for the info.

leo99

-It starts after i take the key out and reinsert it.
-there is only one other key plus the remote on the rings.
-Yes its a 99.

twill220

im having same problem with car not starting..changed the ignition switch back in march myself and has only put 4k on it since then...could the switch go bad again that fast or is it the starter for sure??? i have a 99 tl and ive checked all fuses ..they all are good ..any suggestions

twill220

i have tried the override button and still not starting...tried tapping starter w/ screwdriver and still nothin...could ig switch go that fast again...

jdjohn84

Leo: replace your ignition switch.
Twill: have your starter tested.

leo99

Have you tested the starter?
Check all of your connections too.

leo99

Did you do the override correctly?
Is your battery and all the connections good?

leo99

I am about to get the ign switch back replaced.... hopefully it solves everything.