Got an intermittent car starting issue. Replaced the started about a year ago (brand new, no reman), and engages fine. However, my wife has been driving hte car for last six months as budget is tight and she totaled her car (and to hell with new car prices where they are). She's saying the car doesn't start all the time and that at times, all power is gone. I did check and indeed the cable to the starter was loose and I adjusted it and tested it half a dozen times, no problem starting. This morning she reports she couldn't start the car again and at one point no power. I told her to open the hood and play with the starter connection (next to the ATX dipstick) and it then voila power and it started.

What could this be? Seems to me it's the top connector to the starter (picture below). Grabbed a picture online and circled the culprit area...I'm at the office so can't get a picture of my current car. Or perhaps battery cable? But I've cleaned terminals, tightened it connections were solid. Plus this is very intermittent per her.




Car: 2006 TL with 105k miles ATX

Thanks!

 

If you can wiggle the cable and get it to start, that's the first place I'd look.

 

The thing is, I would think it's a bad starter but sometimes the car is just completely dead (like no power- unlock/lock doors, nada)....so tells me the culrpit is likely not the starter but rather battery (but again just purchased a new battery in Nov 2022)....thinking maybe battery cable?

 

 

alternator?

 

I can almost guarantee that the negative cable isn’t tight on the battery. If you open the door and everything works turn the key and hear a click then everything goes black. 100% it’s a battery cable and 90% the negative one. Also sometimes the cables get worn out. So even though you have tightened the screw as far as it will go the cable can still move. Give them both a good front to back or back to front tug. If either one moves at all then it’s not tight enough.

 

winner winner chicken dinner!

So I think it was two fold- was indeed the starter connection but when patching up everything did not tighten down the negative cable. Went back, tightened and has worked flawless since weekend.

Also, lost the battery tie down so used a bungee cable...I know, I know. It’s ghetto but this is a workhorse and the wife is not a great driver!

Thank you, sir!

 

The battery tie down is a safety item. At least go find one at a junkyard.

 

I mean.. all the more reason to get it properly tied down unless you've upped her life insurance policy

If the tiedown isn't keeping the battery tight, a hard turn could cause the battery to jostle around and disconnect/lose power.