mountaineer044

I just had the a/t rebuilt at 225,000 miles. Everything has been just fine until last night. I got in the car last night after work and it would not do anything - dashboard light came on, turned the key and absolutely nothing.

I went back up today with my actron code reader in hand and pulled the following all related to the ABS system:

61-1 Battery voltage malfunction
68-1 Brake switch malfunction
83-1 Engine control module (ECM) / Powertrain Control Module (PCM) relation malfunction
86-1 Controller area network relation malfunction

No engine codes and no transmission codes, just the ones above.

I did read that a bad battery can cause other codes to pop up. I checked the battery (even replaced it) and still got these same codes (yes I cleared everything).

Does anyone have any ideas or insights?

It's in a park and ride lot and I figure I better move it tomorrow, one way or the other.

Thanks, I appreciate any insight.

carz0159

If you are sure its not the battery, i would check for blown fuses, shorts, and the car not being grounded somewhere...

Any work done recently?
How long ago was the trans rebuilt?
Did you experience anyroblems with driveability lately?

It seems like there are false codes of all of a sudden you get all of those...

It could be some computer control module thats sending a bad signal to the ecu causing some codes.

mountaineer044

The tranny was rebuilt within the last month, actually twice because a mechanical clutch (so I was told) failed on the original rebuild (no additional cost to me). Other than the failure problem with the rebuild, the car has been fine.

NBP04TL4ME

Just a quick thought but you might want to try and see if the car will start in neutral. I forget what it's called (neutral safety switch comes to mind - could be that's for the 6 speed), but its a safeguard. Prevents the car from moving while the transmission is engaged and the engine is being turned/started by the starter. Could be switch is bad or not connected properly, got disconnected. Again just a thought.

mountaineer044

Thanks and that was one of the first things I tried, along with moving the gear selector around quite a bit.

This car is just dead. I read on other threads about starters. Can a bad starter behave this way?

NBP04TL4ME

Could be as sometimes they give you no warning before failing. Try tapping in the starter with a hammer or something hard. Again tap, not pound.

mountaineer044

I'll give it a try tomorrow, with the wooden handle end of the hammer . Thanks again.

If anyone else has anything, I'd appreciate your insight and suggestions.

pohljm

absolutely the starter can behave this way. in fact if you have never replaced one in the TL your overdue.

Scottwax

Dead starter will usually click when you turn the key but thats it. Turn the headlights on, have someone watch the lights when you turn the key. If they don't dim, I'd suspect the starter. You can also whack it with a hammer a few times, that's what I had to do with mine when it wouldn't start. And then it started every time after that for nearly 3 months. Didn't fail again until the first start after I left the dealer when I had the power steering hose recall done.

Glad it didn't fail at the dealer...much better to have it away from them where I can grab a starter at Pep Boys than have a dealer want me to pay their price for parts and labor!

csmeance

Just to confirm there was no rapid clicking sound? If yes, the problem could be very simple to fix!

Try having a friend start the car, while they are starting it measure the voltage on the control solenoid on the starter. If the voltage spikes up from .3V to 5-9V then that means the Starting system is trying to start the car but the starter is seized/damaged. Also with 225K it's possible that the wire attached to it worked itself loose after the transmission repairs! Also you are getting those codes because the car isn't on!

mountaineer044

I appreciate the info and it sounds like it may be starter. I'm going to look at that today.

MarcoNorthPolo

This happened to a friend of mine the other day at a gas pump. Accessories worked but it wouldn't turn over. No click or anything. It was the starter. My money's on that.

mountaineer044

Thanks everyone for your advice, it was indeed the starter. I never had one fail like this so I was really scratching my head. I took an old wooden axe handle to the car today and while I tapped the starter sharply my wife turn the key. The car started up and I stopped on the way home and picked up a new one. The new one is in and the car fired up on the very first try.

Thanks again everyone, I appreciate the help.

NBP04TL4ME

Sounds good!!

MarcoNorthPolo

Awesome. Good to know.

Scottwax

My old 1990 Accord and my 2002 Maxima both gave me some warning the starter was going bad by hearing the click when turning the key but a couple more turns and clicks both would then start. With my 2004 Accord, zero warning. Weird. Looks like I'm not the only one that happened to.

NBP04TL4ME

To date 4 Accords, 2 Odysseys, 2 3G TLs and 1 MDX and no dead starters. Dead batteries with no warning, that's a different story.

flyromeo3

my starter died on me Friday morning.
The hardest part was removing that stupid bolt from under the battery tray.

got 150k miles out of my original starter.......

05SSMTL

I ran into the same issue on my car- ending up being the Positive battery cable that runs up to the underhood fusebox. Interior lights/dash would come on when I turned the key, but as soon as I attempted to start it, everything would shut off. No click, nothing. Replaced the cable, and that fixed it. Worth a shot.

HowardS

Have 04 TL that won't start. Thanks for the ideas of putting auto trans in neutral and tapping starter with something. I'll try it tomorrow. Great site!

NBP04TL4ME

Sounds good and part of the reason this site is so good!

Acuraman101

Just having the same prob at 233,000 miles. had to tap starter

Scott Estle

How much does it cost to replace a starter in the tl