Occasionally when trying to start my 2000 Acura TL, I get a clicking sound. My limited troubleshooting experience tells me starter issues-however, regularly now the radio cuts off and the clock resets. Is this because of the starter issue or is this another problem? Thank you for your feedback!

 

when you get a clicking sound...how do you get the car to start afterwards?

if it comes back "magically" well, that never happens; it's more than likely a loose (or corroded) battery terminal; check those out at home, for free.

if you need to jump start the car (such as early in the morning, after listening to the radio with car off or after the car has sat for a while) : perhaps the battery is bad, you can get it tested for free at an auto store.

if it happens after using the car and perhaps the battery light comes on when the car is running: may be related to a charging system problem; that too can be checked at an auto parts store.

hope this helps...

 

I've had a similar issue ... sort of. I know I have a parasitic draw, but sometimes the car won't start even with a fully charged battery or an attempted jump start. I get a single click and that's it. And have even had at least a couple of instances where it "magically" starts after removing the jumper cables.

I need to check further, but I think it might be that the car doesn't recognize that it's in park, as at least on 1 or 2 occasions, I played with the shifter and it then started. Is there a Park safety switch somewhere that could be going bad or need adjusting?

 

There is a shift position switch, but unless you recently switched out the transmission and I'd be more inclined to think you had a loose or corroded connection based on the comment about jumper cables "just being placed and removed" having an impact.

Did you try cleaning the battery terminals and re-seating the terminal clamps? if there is corrosion, check inside the positive cables protective sleeve sometimes corrosion gets in there and eats away the wires without even being seen.

 

Transmission was replaced years ago and this issue started within the past year.

There does seem to be corrosion on the positive cable at the battery terminal end. The cable itself seems to be in good shape, although I can see the corrosion leading into the cable casing. I had the battery & starter out to test the starter, so I got a good look at the whole positive cable. Don't believe there is a break in there anywhere. I also replaced the ground cable while testing the starter, as that was badly frayed.

Need to get in there and do some more testing. Also need to find my parasitic draw.

 

Found my parasitic draw, or at least the circuit it's on. Pulled the Backup ACC fuse and the draw is gone. How do I find out what's on that circuit?

Also, looked more closely at the positive battery cable. Corrosion was superficial. Will pull the starter again and have it re-tested.

 

Found I had 2 circuits causing my parasitic draw. Pulled fuses 9 & 11 and that seems to have removed the draw. Also found that a bad connection to my starter was causing the issue with that. The lug on the starter that the positive battery cable connects to was stripped. Couldn't get a tight connection to the starter. Ended up having to replace the starter even though it still worked. That was the easiest way.