Today I tried to start the car and it will not start. The power comes on and I hear the solinoid when I try to start but that's all she wrote. Not sure where to begin but I wanted to post on here to see if anyone has had a similar issue.

 

Battery, Starter, alternator

 

I think we'll need more information - when you turn the key to start do you get a single 'click' noise?

Or a constant, rapid 'click click click click'?

Or is the engine cranking but it won't start?

Does the engine stumble when cranking but won't stay running?

If you can hear the solenoid then I guess it isn't an immobilizer issue. Do you have any check engine/VSA, /!\, etc lights on? If so you'll want to get those codes - somehow. Is your shifter in Park/Neutral and the P/N gauge lit?

That's all I can think of for now.

 

Sorry for the lack of information. Im only getting a single click. The power seems to be fine and not dim but I dont have anyone around with jumper cables. The battery was a little corroded on the positive side so I took it off and cleaned out the terminal good. I'm still only getting the 1 click. I wont know until later if its the battery but with the power not dimming the lights, Im thinking it could be something else.

 

Check your terminals and make sure everything is snug. I actually had a problem in the past where my car wouldn't start - it ended up being that the starter cable had somehow come off.



On the starter, make sure A is connected to B and that the cable below is snug and clean any corrosion on either bolt.

If you have a thicker gauge insulated wire you can actually remove connector A (make sure transmission is in P or N) and jump terminal B to the positive battery terminal, if your starter cranks then you've got a problem with the starter control wire.

Otherwise, check your engine grounds (braided wires), the negative battery cable (connects to the body near the coolant reservoir), and make sure the starter isn't loose.

 

Check this please: https://acurazine.com/forums/second-...rounds-926900/

 

that's what I was thinking - ground
Especially the main battery neg cable- it likes to come loose INSIDE its connector to the frame~ ooops!

stop turning on the headlights- they will zap whatever is left of battery
They do not reflect actual ability of battery to start the car

If possible remove battery from car and take to parts store- they will charge it fully then test it for you. IS battery more than 3-4 years old?
Terminal crud growth is an indication gasses are escaping the battery vent - are there caps you can open to add distilled water to battery -if needed??
Its better to charge battery than to jump start it and make the alternator work overtime charging it,
IF you must jump start the car- drive without extra load on alt for 30-45 minutes to charge battery, no ac no headlights, no radio, all the power going to charge battery

 

Thanks for all the responses! This forum has always been the best to go to. I tried many of the suggestions to no avail. After having no luck, I ended up replacing the starter since I didn't know if it was original that came with my car or the one that came off the 06 tranny I put in a little over a year ago. She started right up!

 

^ Good thing that was the issue luckily... I didn't got the same luck :/ in any case you should check your grounds if they have never been replaced... Almost all our TLs are Due to replace all Ground Cables by now.

 

One thing Ive noticed since installing the starter is RPM surging on idle. Not too bad (250-750) but it died when I parked. I'm hoping that this is because the ECU got reset. Since you guys are the Acura guru's I figured I'd ask before. Car has 91K.

 

Did you disconnect the battery NEG - as you should have- before playing around the starter?

an 03 does require the Idle Relearn Procedure as found in our diy or your owner book
no book? free download from acura here Acura Owners Site | Exclusive Knowledge, Service, & Benefits

 

I took the battery completely out when I replaced the starter. I've driven the car all day and it still having the occasional surge. It died twice today when I parked. I'm going to guess it might be the EGR but I dont understand why I would have this problem now and not before.

 

Nope... Is the idle issue with the Idle Relearn..
You can do the idle relearn procedure 01tl mentioned OR you can do this:


1.- Drive your car on highway but WOT´it at least twice.
2.- Get off highway, Park and Shut off car
3.- Turn on car and Your set! Idle should now be steady.


The important thing here is to WOT I had to remove my battery countless of times when I was doing my stereo or to upgrade..
The idle issue is 100% guaranteed to occur if you reset the ECU or D/C the battery on +02 models and up.

 

probably safer to do the idle relearn per the book method- in the driveway
where no cops are hiding~

The problem is not going to go away until you complete the work!
First time it stalled would convince most people to follow our advice

 

Should be as easy as getting it up to temperature and then letting it idle for about 5min.

 

The old hammer tap trick would of been a good diagnostic on that starter.

 

Im pretty sure idle relearn is a few steps, not just sit at idle or go wide open throttle on freeway
Look in owner book for the definitive answer for YOUR YEAR car

 

Seems to be fine now. I will be cleaning the EGR next oil change in the a couple weeks. Thanks for all your inputs!

 

Sorry for the thread revival, but where are you guys buying your starters? I think I am in the need for one (since I ran through the diagnostics in multiple threads and all things point to the starter being bad) but was hesitant to just head over to O'Reilly or Autozone to pick one up. Let me know, thanks.