Hello - Three times in the past two weeks I went to start my car and it wouldnt start. It has happened after sitting off for anywhere from 30 minutes to overnight. It doesn't seem to happen everytime but randomly. When I put the key in the ignition, the lights and dash turn on but when I turn the key I hear a clicking noise (the lights then dim) and nothing else happens. When I get my car jumped, it starts after a couple attempts.

Any tests to figure out what this could be? I replaced my battery Feb 09 with an OEM battery. The battery looks clean and connectors seem tight. Autozone tested my battery and they said its OK but it took them a couple minutes to get the test results.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

Solenoid is going bad I think.

 

Anyway that I can test for this before I take it in? Thank you!

 

Solenoid of what?

 

Battery?

 

I had the battery die in my old Vigor and all it did was click, wouldn't operate anything electrical in the car.

 

Depends on how much the lights dim. If the interior lights/headlights dim considerably, battery, but if only slightly, starter. Check the battery voltage with a multimeter to be sure.

 

+1 Starter solenoid.

 

usually the dealer will check your battery for free, if the battery is good most likely it will be the starter solenoid getting stuck. If you remove the starter you can take it in to be tested but since it doesnt happen all the time it might work when they bench test it. What we use to do (but doesnt always work 100% of the time) was have someone try and start it (when its having the issue) and the other person tap/hit the solenoid with a pry bar.

Heres a post with a video from another member.
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-problems-fixes-114/car-doesnt-start-starter-motor-video-820727/
hope it helps

 

Take the battery terminals off and clean the battery portions and the actual terminals w/a wire brush and then coat everything with anti-corrosive spray. If that doesn't solve the problem then your stater solonoid is on it's way out.

 

X2 .. do the cleaning and if your going to use the spray use it on the terminals "after" they are back together. Make sure you have the radio codes.

 

Quick update: took it the dealer this weekend and they ran some tests on the battery, starter, alternator and drain when its off. After replacing the battery and a relay (there was a TSB about it) everything seems perfect again! Thanks for the replies!