I just experienced a weird problem. Sometimes when I try to start my tl I will just hear a click. I doesnt crank over or anything. I dont think its the immobilizer because the key light turns on and stays on. After a couple of tries it will just start right up like normal. Its happened about 4-5 times since last week. Could it be a bad ignition switch that I hear have some problems? Or is it something like the battery or starter? But like I said sometimes it start right up. Thanks

 

Take your car to your local auto parts store. You can have your battery, charging system, starter checked for free. Free here in the states xcept cali. Dont know about overseas where you are.

How do the battery cables look? Are they clean? Thats been a big problem here lately. Old wires hide crud from years of use deep inside. Old wires tend to cause freaky electrical problems. And bad ground wires do too. Recommend replace if never done before.

Extra info - what year are you? Ignition switch was a recall on some cars. But you didnt complain about power loss which is a big telltale.

 

It's a 02 type s. Would the cables and battery be a cause even though most of the time it starts up fine? What happens when the immobilized can't detect the key chip. Does it crank at all or does just what I'm having the problem with. Like I said before, after 3-4 tries it start right up. A couple of times I just opened the door then it started. Yes very weird. Could be coincidence tho. I think I'm gonna try using a different key just to check off the chip as being a problem. Then I'll have my elec. system check. Thanks!

 

99 had the bad prob with ignition switch failure
00 may carry some of that

cables are an issue now with age, as well as battery condition/age
first good cold snap in the weather and extra use of headlights, cabin fan with heater, seat heaters all running together - will put the hurt on a weak batt quick

 

immobilzer prob would mean no flashing of the green light

Cal. parts store cant do code reads for you anymore,
basic electrical charging system test are still allowed and free

 

Is it possible for the immobilizer to not work then work all of a sudden? I didnt notice it flash. I only seen it turn on steady for couple seconds then turn off. Thanks for the help. Your seafoam thread was very helpful too. Did that last week. ��

 

many things are possible
which is why you head direct to the parts store for a charging system test

 

Sound like your starter starting to fail..

 

^That would be my first guess as well.

 

based on other reported symptoms of starter failure: Im with you guys on this

but a quick test at parts store will ck the load draw of starter- a good indicator of condition
as well as our new prob of worn out battery cables and ground wire system

 

I got the system check today at oreilleys and the guy said everything was fine except the batt was kinda low. Picked up a new batt and voila still doesn't start. I had a gut feeling it wasn't the batt too since i had power and even tried jumping it earlier today with no luck (I was stuck at a gas station for about a hour until it finally started. Didn't do anything to it, just kept trying and it started fine all of a sudden.) I wonder if they'll take the batt back? probably not. But anyway tomorrow I'm gonna check the cables and change them if needed. If that doesn't help I'm gonna take out the starter and have them test it. See how that goes. Thanks guys!

 

If I take out the starter to get it checked is it possible to check out ok since sometimes it starts? I dont want another false positive.

 

Could be just worn brushes. Have them test it.

 

Yes, they have a machine on the counter that test starters and alternators

If your battery was low, its not getting a charge,, or not taking a charge

they would have tested alternator output to make sure what the prob was before selling you a battery
If it was 3-4 years old it was on its last days

having starter probs has been a recent thing here, but increasing reports of failure
Guess its 10,000 starts and time for a new unit!

better than some cars, 10k starts and send the entire car to the dismantler and recyling place (junkyard)

a bad starter may show as extra load draw on startup- if they ckd that after batt install.
you should always ck system again with new battery after driving around 45 minutes to fully charge batt

or it can have bad starter brushes as said above- and not able to conduct electricity to the motor part of the unit

ground cables and pos batt cable are still suspect, another reported age prob and hard or no start issue/fix
Was there any crud growing on the battery terminals or cables ??

 

Here's my opinion; if you remove the starter, replace it with a new one. Just the physical act of removing it will likely jostle a stuck brush or hanging up solenoid enough to make it work for a while.
It's really easy to test it in the car with a test light or voltmeter and a friend.
When it fails, have your friend hold the key in the crank position. You should have battery voltage at the small wire on the starter. If you don't, the problem is in the ignition switch, neutral safety switch, wiring, or a loose/dirty connection at the starter where the small wire connects. You should have battery voltage at the large wire on the starter. If not, you've got a dirty battery terminal or bad positive cable. Last, touch your test light or positive voltmeter lead to the starter housing. The light shouldn't light, and a voltmeter should show .4 volts or less. If not, you've got a dirty negative terminal, bad negative cable, resistance between the starter and transmission, or resistance between the transmission and the negative cable.
Usually, you'll spend more time trying to make it fail than you will diagnosing it.
Another time honored, but less scientific approach is to tap the starter with a small hammer or such while someone holds the key in the crank position.

 

Like u said the starter checked ok. I reinstalled ad it worked for 3-4 starts. Then the problem started again. I didn't have anyone available to help me with the volt meter. But I did do a visual check any cleaned whatever connections I could. As for replacing power and ground. Do u recommend just adding a wire or replacing it with a new one. Thats next on the list unless anyone u have any other ideas.

Do any of u think it could be the ignition switch like I thought before?

Thanks for everyone's input.

 

Some people add but I'd replace. May be a weak point just leaving it.
I'd recommend upsizing positive and grounds. OEM is probably fine if you dont have added electrical in the car. Acuraoemparts should have the replacement.

 

get a pos batt cable at parts store

acura makes a grounding kit, $20 with neg batt cable and all the small wires to ground the engine to frame

dont leave old batt cable in place and add to it- resistance is our enemy!!
Hawaii can be hard on wires!

Larger guage/(smaller number) wires are good if you put the hurt on batt and system with 600 watts or more or music
Extra grounds never hurt!!

Yes it may be a switch prob too, pull that and inspect for black gunge inside contacts
some can be cleaned, or if it looks burnt- replace for 50 bucks

 

My first guess is switch your battery is low cause u keep turning the ignition that sure take battery life.Had that same prob on my 99 tl was like that for 7 monthes haha crazy easy to diy got mine at autozone still working great

 

It's a new battery. Same problem. Plus I still have the problem when jumping it with another car. 95% sure it's not the batt. Starter checked out ok at oreilleys. So it's either wiring, the ignition switch or still could be the starter. On the agenda tomorrow will be testing with multimeter and changing out + - cables. This is starting to be a pain in the a$$. I almost was wishing the starter wasn't gonna pass so at least I would know whats wrong and change it out. Right now I'm pretty much at where I started. Haha. Wish me luck!

 

Ha not switch batter sorry should of put a period after that.. I ment its the switch ignition switch im almost 100 percent sure

 

its bringing your battery low cause u keeping turning it over your battery nis 12v its slowly gets charged around 14.2sh volt so not that much turning over multiple tymes dies out the battery.

 

Im certain that would fix the issue. Try to charge the battery if you can. New but may have been sitting on store shelves for months without maintenance charge. When replacing the grounds be sure to clean around any attachments. A clean ground path is an effective ground path.

 

So far so good. Let's see if it works. Thanks for everyones input.

 

So it's still holding out so far. BUT now my mirror has that yellow blob. If its not one thing it's another. Wtf!

 

Look in the diy list. I believe theres a replacement diy for that.

The old mirrors had some type of fluid in it. Some say theirs burst open and spilled fluid on the console,dash. And its corrosive so it eats away at things!!

They sell new replacements that are better than the stock and dont have the fluid in them.

 

If I pick one up at my local Acura should it be the new mirror or could it still be the one with the fluid in it? And do u know if it comes with all the hardware to install it.

 

According to acuracarland.com if you go to:
1.order parts
2.enter vehicle info
3.go to mirror - its part#11

Includes all the hardware. You can give them a call and ask them about the inner makeup of the mirror.

The install is in our diy list under interior/electrical.

 

I still think you have an intermittent starter. The cure is to replace it.

 

Im still keeping an eye in that. The starter will be replaced if it happens again. I would have changed it already but money is kinda tight. Especially since I have to buy a mirror now. $167 at my local acura. Looks like im gonna be ordering it online. Still, the cheapest I found was $130 shipped. Lucky I like Hawaii I guess. Does anyone know if Honda would have a mirror that would fit and if it might be cheaper? I have a honda about 10 mins from my house. Thanks

 

To toydriven: My 04 acura is doing the same thing. Did you replace the starter or the ignition switch. My battery is good and just recently the damn thing wont start like yours did. Looking for some help to fix it.

 

Well it just happened again so I'm guessing it's the starter. Tried a new battery, cables. Still got the problem. Seems to happen more when it rains. so I'll probably try changing the starter. Your case might be different. So I'd suggest from the info I got here that check ur cables of u know ur battery is good first. Does yours click like mine? Or nothing? I know that doesn't help much so maybe better off waiting for the others to respond.

 

It happened again.... Starter is coming out as soon as I get a chance and a new ones goin in. Thanks.

 

I saw a few last night on ebay way cheaper than that. There is a honda parts site too. Somethin like hondaparts.com or somethin. I forget.

 

when it started working again, did you actually change anything or did it just start working again? i had that problem on 2 different cars (both over 10 years old one of which still has the original starter ) i added a 14 gauge wire from one of the starter bolts straight to the negative terminal and BAM starts every time

you can try grounding the starter with jumper cables see if that helps

 

Got stuck at our job site today. Luckily it was next to a auto shop. They confirmed the starter is dead. Picked up a new one tonight and they r gonna change it for me while I'm working. I know I know it's super easy. I took it out before and I know it's only the 2 bolts and a nut for the power. But they were nice enough to help me out and keep my car in their shop over night (bad area of Oahu) even though I told them I would fix it my self. They quoted me $60 for labor. Less haslte for me so it's worth it. Ok it's getting long. Thanks for everyone help.

 

Mine only clicks once when you turn the key. Im gonna go to autozone tomorrow and get it checked out. Is replacing the starter pretty simple? Do you need specific tools? Cheapest I was quoted was 90.00 to put it in. All my tools are at my parents house 75 miles away so all I have in basic, around the house, tools right now. Wondering if I should just pay the 90 and be done with it.

 

It's not hard at all. Just take out the battery and battery tray. Then unhook the solenoid wire and power wire. Then there's two bolts holding the starter itself. I forget which size but it's a normal metric size. Ur gonna news a extension to reach them though. Especially the bottom one. And there on there good. I had to use the end of my jack handle for leverage. After that it pops right off.