Hey everyone. I have a problem that happens randomly. In the pass few days when I insert the key into the ignition and turn it to start the engine, nothing happens. (No clicking. dashboard lights come on and Navigation comes on when key is in the ACC position, but when I turn the key to start the car all of the lights turn off) I would have to try a few times before the engine actually starts. I know the car has an Immobilizer System and the key contains electronic circuits. I`m not sure if the circuits on the key itself are bad or if there is a problem with the Immobilizer System in the car. Please help! Your input will be much appreciated! Thank you!

 

battery

 

^A-OC is likely right.

Please check the connections to the battery.
sometimes they get loose and or corroded.

 

The battery should be good. I just purchased the car about a month ago, but I`ll go ahead and double check the battery. Thanks.

Any other ideas guys?

 

Ok. I will check the battery soon. Thank you very much.

 

I believe if there was a problem with the immobilizer, a KEY should light up on the dash.

 

Oh ok. That`s what I read in the owners manual. If the KEY light stays lit then there is a problem, but if it goes off after a few seconds its fine. My light goes off after a few seconds so I guess its fine. Thanks.

 

So yesterday I disconnected the battery and cleaned the posts and the connections with a steel wool pad and then tighten everything back up so we`ll see if it happens again. Thank you guys. I will keep you posted if anything happens.

 

I had a problem that was similar to yours not too long ago. I thought it was the battery or the alternator, yet every time I took it somewhere, I couldn't recreate the issue. It started happening more and more frequently, and then eventually just STOPPED. I kept trying and trying to start it, with no luck. Eventually, I had it towed to a shop, who told me I had killed the starter solenoid by repeatedly trying to start it while it was dead. They replaced the starter and everything worked just fine again. Until today.

 

http://www.aboutacura.com/2010/01/ts...fl-doesnt.html

Our dealer was not helpful (even though there was a service bulletin out). We found from Acurazine our '07 TL had a parasitic battery drain caused by a defective hands free link (HFL). Ours was in the overhead console. Turned car off a night and next morning felt the console - still hot. Evidence that HFL had not turned off. It was only then they replaced it. Don't know location in your car, but get location from dealer if they won't check it for you. Then disconnect it (there is a quick disconnect), and leave the car alone for the same number of days it previously took to drain the battery. If it won't start, this is not the problem. If it does, it "might" be the problem.

Beware: the idea that a car is "heavy on tech" as an excuse for the battery draining is crap. That is EXACTLY what they told us. I asked: "What if I park at the airport and return 2 days later?" Their answer was in such situations you have to EXPECT the battery will be drained on "these new cars". Bull----

Buying a new $120 battery from Sears and having it discharge in a couple of days led me to a search where I found Acurazine, an invaluable resource. Good luck.

 

I would also recommend checking the ground from the transmission. The starter is grounded through the transmission that can sometimes get corroded.

 

Well a few days ago I disconnected the battery and cleaned the posts and the connections with a steel wool pad and then tighten everything back up so we`ll see if it happens again. I will also go ahead and check the ground from the starter to the transmission that your talking about to see if it is corroded. Thank you for your input "laziebun".

 

I was in the exact boat. At first for me, I was thinking it was a parasitic drain or the battery......turned out, it was the STARTER. The exact symptoms you describe. Some days it would start normal and some days it took several tries. Then you will go to a gas station and be praying that the car starts again. I'm not mechanically inclined but I went to the wreckers and got a starter for $25......it was rusted to crap but I installed it......one year later and the car is running great.
I'm betting you its the starter! The are threads here to help with the install.

 

So 2 days ago this started to happen again so my mechanic said to turn the key to the start position and tap the starter with a hammer and if it starts then I`ll need to replace the starter. So I`ll keep you guys posted. Thanks for your input "COLINGER"

 

I am starting to have this problem again with the car not starting. I installed 2 additional grounding wires about 2 weeks ago. (Starter to Transmission and Engine block to Chassis.) Anyway I notice when I put the car in Neutral, it starts up. I don`t know if this is just a coincidence? I know there may be some kind of safety lock switch between the the transmission and ignition? Please help if you have any information. Thanks.

 

I may have had the same problem, is it doing this?


If so, it was my starter motor

 

Yes. That`s exactly what it is doing. I turn the key and nothing happens except the dashboard lights come on. But when I turn it to the start position all the lights go out. No clicking from the starter. I`m thinking it my be the starter or battery? ...

 

For me it was the starter.

 

nighthawk203, did you ever figure out what it was? I'm having a similar problem but not sure if it's the same problem. Two days in a row I got in my car, everything is fine, locks work, dome lights, headlights, all on, I turn the key to ACC, everything's still fine, but as soon as I turn it further everything goes blank, dash, dome, headlights, even the door chime doesn't work. I don't know if it's coincidence but I was able to reproduce this twice so far. I use the lock-unlock button on the door to lock and unlock the car, then everything is back to normal, dome lights, dash, etc. If I then turn the key to ACC, wait until the navigation screen comes on, then turn the key further, the car starts without any issues or hesitation.
So, could it be the same problem, i.e. the starter?

 

Well, it can't be the starter because today the power cut out while I was driving, which is really scary. So no one knows what it could be? I checked the battery connections and they're tight.

 

Check the ignition switch, which has caused similar problems for a couple of other members when their TL ignition switches went bad.

Also, check for error codes with the scanner/OBDII reader and report back to this thread with any error codes you find.