I have a 2000 3.2TL with about 95,000 miles. This issue started about a year ago and only came up once in a blue moon but now its just about everyday.

Turning the key to start the car, the starter does not engage. You can hear the starter solenoid kick every time you turn the key but the starter does nothing. It seems like its stuck. The battery is good, terminals are cleaned, starter brushes has been changed, and replaced the stater solenoid. I also waited for this issue to come up once and I unplugged the main relay, still had the same issue of just hearing the starter solenoid click.

When this comes up, only way to start the car is to sit there and turn the key rapidly, in most cases up to 10 times to get the starter engaged. Tapping the starter does nothing, shifting into N and starting also does nothing.

But when this issue doesn't come up, everything is cherry and runs perfect.

Is there other relays I'm missing or should I try a new starter?

 

Just replace the starter & be done w/ it.

 

or at least test the starter while it's off and before you replace it.

do all of the lights work and all of the rest of the electronics work when this occurs? or are they dead?

 

Thats what I forgot to do when I had it off.

Everything works like usual just the starter doesn't engage. Once it does, everything is good and fires up like usual.

It just happens randomly, say I drive it to run errands and start and stop it about 10 times. Maybe 2 of those 10 the problem will occur. It happens whether the car sat for 5 minutes or overnight, so its not a heat or cold issue.

 

Changed the starter last night....problem still there

Will be voltage testing everything tonight, where can I find the wiring schematics to the ignition system?

 

ck the ignition switch electrical part/back
on 99s they went out all the time and had a recall to replace once, but dies 4 more times in the cars life

00s and later likely have same part,, just not as reported a problem~
see DIY section