I have a 2000 tl. As I'm driving everything intermittently shuts down for a second and comes back on.... all the electrical and engine. Does anyone have any idea what this could be?

 

Ignition switch.

When the car cuts out, does the radio and air work but not the windows & turn signals?
If so, it's the ignition switch.

 

no... nothing works. radio, dash lights, headlights, navi, windshield wipers, windows, engine... nothing. it literally shuts off and restarts like you would push start a manual.

 

Loose connection (maybe battery terminals) or main relay is going bad.

 

i havent checked the relay.. not exactly sure where that would be located. i did check the battery terminals and they were fine. I've gone over every senario that i can think to go over... i figured if it were the battery it wouldn't start initially and the alternator would keep it going while driving. i also figured that if it were the alternator everything would dime out untill the batery died. so i've been at a loss. i'll check out the relay though! thanks!

 

would the computer log that event as an error do you think?

 

do you have several keys on the ignition key ring?

 

no.. just a house key and a desk key.

 

ok its probaly not from too much weight on the ignition swith then- often a problem

The 99s had an ignition switch prob/recall, its worth a call to acura to see if your 2000 has any service notices out on same situation. Sometimes you get a retired tech who actually owns an acura and can give you some hints of what to check as well
1-800-382-2238 x5

 

right on! thanks! will do.

 

And, even if the 2000 TL did not have recall on the ignition switch, a bad ignition switch is still a possibility.

 

would a bad ignition switch cause the headlights and dash lights to go out though?

 

good point on the headlights. no it don't think it woulnd be the ignition switch then. check a schematic and see what else is common to entire elec system of the car.

 

If everything goes off, the main power feed is interrupted somehow. This could be a loose battery wire connection (both ends of main battery wires), cracked battery post, defective battery wire (negative wire also), intermittent main fuse (~100A), or loose connection at the main bus connection in the underhood fuse box. Some voltage checks while wiggling wires, battery, etc should find the fault.

good luck

 

That's a good point about the headlights. Although I do wonder if a short in the ignition switch might still be able to take out the entire electrical system.

The battery related possibilities mentioned above are good ones. If your battery is getting pretty old, you might just want to replace it to eliminate that possibility.

Good luck and let us know what you figure out.

 

a short in the ignition switch would blow fuses big time. the ignition switch is probably fine. Typically any electrical short would blow a fuse, unless someone messes w/ the fuses.

it wouln't be the battery posts and or wires because u can remove the battery while the car is running and it will still run w/o the battery. once the car is running the battery gets charges from the alternator so it really is out of the picutre when the engine is on.

i like these suggestions by TexasHonda.

 

Dude.. NO. you DO NOT disconnect the battery while the engine's running on any car that's newer than a '95. That'll cause voltage spikes which can kill fuses, shorts, messing up the ecu or any other electrical component. Careful.

DO NOT DISCONNECT THE BATTERY WHILE THE ENGINE IS ON.

 

Also, if you had loose battery terminal connections, normally, the car will start, it will keep running (because of the alternator), but once you turn the engine off, it's not going to go back on again unless the terminals are wiggled around or you get a small jump. Happened to be once or twice before. Get a multimeter and troubleshoot

 

johnr5, are you sure? If that was the case, there are many batteries that are loose/corroded with poor connectivity and we would see a lot more of those failures you mention. Maybe this is sometihng new for me but how many cars have you seen this with? I would agree it might trash electrical components *if* the alternator was faulty. It's job is to maintain 14.5vdc when running.

 

^several from experience, you may be right though. i'll still keep doing my research

 

ok... i had a code reader hooked up and there were no codes... what do i do now?

 

a) reread thread, answer above
b) just wait till it's broke 100% - a lot easier to fix
c) get a big neon sign, put on the rear mirror that says "caution, stay back 500 ft engine dies randomly"
d) get AAA you might need it soon
e) bring it in for repair

 

I had a Bad battery once that would short out while driving the car. I had the EXACT same symptons as you. EXACTLY~! The battery (as I was told by someone that worked at a manufacturing facility for batteries) had a loose cell that was shorting out.

Could be the Ignition switch or main fuse/loose cable etc. but I'd check the battery first and replace it.

 

I agree with these scenereos. This is what you need to check into.

 

I have the same problem, i'll be driving down the street and all of the sudden all the lights on my dashboard will go out, but in ocassion my car will still be running! then i put it on neutral and wiggle the key a bit and everything works again....it is scary specially when i have my baby i the car!! I think its the ignition switch.....

 

thats the kicker for me too! i would hate to be stranded with my wife and kid for sure!!!

it hasn't happened in a week or so... it's frustrating when it goes from happening 4- 5 times everyday to not at all. i don't know weather to just keep an eye on it or start replacing stuff...

d

 

Have you replaced the battery yet? If not, I'd do that just to eliminate it as a possibility.

 

not yet but i am going to do that anyway... it's about time to anyway i think. any suggestions on brand just out of curiosity?