I was driving my moms TL yesterday and it didn't want to start, i noticed it took a few more clicks than it usually does. Today I just got a call at work from my mom saying it won't start at all. It is an early build 04 with about 40K city miles so I am assuming the battery is just gone. I just wanted to see what others where getting out of their batteries and make sure there are no other issues that I should look out for causing it not to start.

 

battery

 

yup, sounds like the battery.. I got 54k out of my OEM battery.

 

Uh, if it cranks over its not the battery...

 

Ok so got home and checked and it is the battery. It has alot of crap all over the terminals too, But my mom just bought a new battery from sams club so I am just gonna put that in instead of dealing with the other battery

 

I'm experiencing the same problem with my '05 TL which I've chronicled in the Problems & Fixes forum. I'm going to leave it with the dealer for a week to see why my car won't turn over despite replacing the battery after it had happened the first time.

 

Have them check the service bulletins...had a no start with a 2004 TL and it was some sub-control box or something. Also had a number of other (seemingly) unrelated items that were all caused by the same bad "box".

Best I remember were:

no outside temp reading
no nav display
no display on the "top" (climate control temp, clock etc)

These were all intermittant (as was the no start) condition. Think the bulletin mentioned it was an issue with 2004, but I'd be suspicious. <g>

Tom

 

tvande, I've told my service reps regarding the outside temp flatlining, but it would stablize after the temps were under 115F. I don't have navi and saw that that TSB refers to units with navi. Can you tell me what sub-control box you're referring to? My HFL went bad last year and was replaced, but reading the TSB on that, it says that if the HFL keeps staying on after the car was turned off, it could've drained the battery, too. I'm scheduled to meet up with them again tomorrow and tell them about the HFL since when I had removed my battery, I still had all of my phone contacts there.

 

just because it cranks doesnt rule out the battery. when i do car audio installs and go to start the car at the end of the job, it cranks but doesnt start. i jump it and it starts right up.

 

I never did get a "solid" answer on the description or name of the device the replaced. Seems to be working because that was this spring and all has been good since.

As for the temp "flat lining over 115" don't think that is related, rather normal for this car. When we saw the non-display was in the winter months so it sure was TOO hot. <g>

Just thought it sounded vaguely familiar to what I had seen and worth a mention. If you seen the TSB, then you know about all that I know. It seems that them mention the part in the TSB but not sure of that.

Tom

 

The "no start" issue was related to a faulty fuse box. One of the service reps had called me that it started right up after a replacement, but they're going to keep it over night to make sure it's good to go.

 

A fuse blew? Or they had to take out the whole old one? I'm shopping for a new ride. Is this a common problem with the TL?

 

^ Bad fuse box under the dash. There's a recall on it for some '05 TLs and mine wasn't on the list, but was effected by the same thing.