zoopzop

Been happening for a couple years now and slowly getting more and more common. I get in the car, turn the key, everything is normal EXCEPT the motor won't turn over. So, I take the key out, try it again, maybe wiggle the shifter, beep the horn, do a rain dance, whatever and then after enough tries it will start up. Sometimes it takes 20 attempts. Sometimes it's 2. Sometimes it doesn't happen for WEEKS on end. Sometimes it happens two days in a row. Always starts up after enough fiddling. Battery is newish. Everything else engine start related I believe is OEM. I was thinking maybe it's a funky starter relay?

peter6

Either test or throw parts at it. Simplest test that you can do without getting your butt up would be shifting it to neutral and checking if it starts then. Although I doubt it would start after couple attempt if you don't touch the shifter if that would be range switch.

Otherwise, connect test light to starter solenoid and check if it receives power when it refuses to start. If problem is intermittent you can leave test light under the hood (if you secure it correctly).

zoopzop

Yeah, the neutral switch test doesn't seem to make a difference so we know it's that. I"ll have to look up what you're talking about with the tester and securing it. It'd have to be in there for days and weeks at a time. Literally the only downside to these high mileage cars is all the mysterious shit they do lol.

Pair of TLs

Check your battery cable or underhood starter relay.

twokexlv6coupe

x2 on either the battery cables, or the ground cables in the engine bay.

DMZ

I had the same symptoms a few years ago. Check the + battery cable as it could easily be corroded internally where you can't see.
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Superunknown

Check the starter ground while you're at it.

montero65

I'm having similar issues for past few months. Ordered a starter weeks ago, but it's on back order. When you say the battery cable, looking at parts online, is that the "Cable Assembly, Starter"? Part Number 32410-SEP-A20? In the range of $45? If that's the part you're talking about, I'll gladly order one of those and try it in place of the $300 starter.

NBP04TL4ME

DMZ is referring to 32600-SEP-A10 which is the ground for battery itself, not the starter.

csmeance

That's the positive cable which can also cause issues, but that looks to be for 2007-2008TL