Here is what happened to me tonight (I drive a 1999 Acura TL (80K miles):

1. Car has been working perfectly fine. Even drove to Vegas in 115 degree heat with no problems. But today I parked my car for 5 minutes then went to start it. It would not start at all. Headlights, alarm, radio, power windows all wouldn't work as well.

2. Got car jumped and everything turned on...but while idling for about 10 minutes, the RPMs dropped to 0, check engine light when on and the car died.

3. Got car jumped again and this time was able to drive for about 20 minutes. At some of the stop lights, the RPMs would drop and the check engine light would briefly go on...but then I would go again and it would be fine.

4. Finally as soon as I reached my home parking lot, while still in drive, the RPMs dropped to zero, my check engine light went on...then everything died. Car won't start at all. Everything is still dead including lights, alarm, auto door locks, windows, etc.

There it is. I thought at first it was the battery but it has to be more than that. Don't think it's the alternator either. From doing my research on this forum I think it might be the ignition switch and their recall issues.

Anyone think the same or have any other suggestions? Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks!

 

when was the last time you had the battery changed? DO you have any aftermarket things that relate to the electrical system? It sounds like a problem in the charging system since the first jump only gave you 10 minutes and the second 20.

 

As csmeance wrote, it sounds like a battery problem or a charging system problem.

If your battery is not a sealed mainrtenance free type, did you check the fluid levels?

How old is the battery?

Do you own a battery charger? If so, give the battery a full charge.

If you have a Sears nearby they sometimes will do free battery/charging system checks.

There was a recall for the ignition switch on the 1999 TL. Was your ignition switch replaced under the recall? If you're not sure Acura will have a record of this. And note that even the new ignition switches can fail. My 1999 TL is on its third ignition switch.

Good luck!

Bob

 

I don't have any after market parts. Everything in the car is stock. The battery is about 3 years old. I also did just find out that my ignition switch was replaced under the recall.

Is the only way to find out that it is the battery vs. the ignition switch to go get the battery itself checked? Or are there any other ways to determine what it might be? Thanks again for all your help.

 

Once the battery is fully charged- parts store will do this for you, then the same place will do a free test of the battery AND the charging system- tell you if the alternator is ok and just dead batt-
sometimes when you run the car on a dead batt the alt works so hard to keep the car running that.............it dies too

Idle speed does not charge the batt- must be over 1500 rpm to make enough spare juice to share- otherwise its just barely running all the electrics like fuel injection, step on the brakes and use turn signal;- that will be over the amount of power available and car stops

Good batteries are lasting 4 or 5 years, thats all they are designed for, 3 is normal

 

Your battery is dead. It is not holding any charge.

 

Thanks guys. It looks like it is the battery but my mechanic is checking everything else just to be sure. I'll let you know. Thanks again for all the help.

 

I'm pretty sure the heat killed it. We got a little heatwave over here a few weeks ago and it killed my sister's 6 month old battery. Got up one morning and car was dead (no lights, no anything). Jumpstarted it and as soon as I put it in gear, it died. New battery = problem solved.

 

thats true...

my battery was about 4 years old and it died on me on July 4th.. how nice is that haha... tried charging it, and then 3hours later tried to turn on the car and it tried starting but the battery was completely dead.. so got a new battery and solved the problem.. and the good thing is i have 8 year warrenty on the battery too XD

 

Yup it was the battery. It was dead so it couldn't hold a charge at all. Got the battery replaced and it's all good now. Thanks everyone for your help.