DeathMetal

iTrader: (2)

Ahhhhh, it never ends. So I am trying to start the car, and, while all of the necessary lights are on, and everything seems to be functioning well, when I go start start the car, all I get is like a -nyeh- -nyeh- -nyeh- sound (imagine the sounds a horse makes), but it never clicks over and starts.

Any ideas what this could be?

Bender

Are you getting the correct voltage from the batt? Have you have the batt tested? Are your terminals clean? It really sounds like the battery. If it was the starter it wouldn't do anything. with out more detail it's hard to tell. Also if your alternator is dead and your car has been using the battery to run then you batt would be to low to start the car.

DeathMetal

iTrader: (2)

Ok, it's 100% not the battery, I just took it out and swapped it in to my wife's car and it started up without hesitation. I have a battery tester and it's also telling me everything is good.

SO, what's the next possibility? Bender, is there any more detail I can give you to troubleshoot? Thanks for your help, man, I'm kind of freaking out here.

Bender

Check the alternator, fuel pump. Can you jump it to get to a shop so they can test?

My old jeep had a bad fuel pump that would periodically work. I ended up having to get under the gas tank and smack the fuel tank with a rubber mallet and it would usually start. Lol also with the starter, I had to smack that to get it to work. Eventuall I got off my ass and replaced the parts.

Nothing beats going on a date, getting to a place, then having to go under the truck and bang on shit to start it.

DeathMetal

iTrader: (2)

Fucking unreal. My father in law has an alternator tester, I am going to grab that and see if it's the alternator.

How in the hell does an alternator go at 56k on an ORT?!

Bender

Be patient lots of people are at work now. You will have lots of answers by the end of the day.
My last opinion with out being there would be the starter solenoid. But I am not totally familiar with all the jibber jabber on this Japanese car.

BradE

Check the cables, make sure they are clean. Make sure the grounds for the cables aren't all rusted up or filled with corrosion as well.

After the battery, always check the cables first.

BradE

The alternator doesn't start the car, the battery and starting/fuel systems do. If the battery has a charge, the car would turn over.

The battery working in another car doesn't mean much, if the engine is smaller it might not require as many CCA's to turn over. TL's are high drain cars because of the electronics, takes a lot of juice to turn the motor over.

Get the battery load tested to confirm it isn't the battery. If that checks out ok, then you check the cables and connections. If those are ok, check the starting system. Then fuel.

max1995

My car is giving me the same problem it would start normally in the morning but sometimes after the car heats up it will just turn over without starting , I would wait for about 5 to 10mins then it would start it doesnt happen very often but it is a concern my guess is the fuel pump is about to go but i am not sure.

DeathMetal

iTrader: (2)

Hmmm...not sure if I pointed this out, but the car has been sitting for two weeks. I pumped the gas a few times, let the starter turn, and BOOM, there it went.

I got smoked out in the garage, I am hoping this is not a fluke.

Thanks for the suggestion, guys, I can pull the car out in the AM to see if this is just a moment of sheer stupidity on my behalf.

WdnUlik2no

same thing here. Brand new battery, but all I get is the "-nyeh- -nyeh- -nyeh-" sound. Tried pumping gas pedal before starting, but it did not help.

WdnUlik2no

ok just tried again, pumping gas WHILE cranking, also tightened the battery terminals and it started right up. I then attempted to start it again without pumping the gas, and it started up fine again. Seems to be fine, but I will still take it to the dealership tomorrow to be sure everything is ok. I think I noticed a strange smell coming from the hood the first time I did this so I need for them to look at this.

Hopefully, It'll start tomorrow morning. so I won't need a tow

DeathMetal

iTrader: (2)

Was your car sitting for awhile prior to the issue?

WdnUlik2no

yeah for a few days.

The car would start up just fine until a few weeks ago after it had been sitting for a few days. After that, it would still crank, but the engine was slow to turn over, I took it to the dealership and they said I had a bad battery, but wanted over $110 to install a new one. But I didn't want another Acura battery because I had one fail before under similar circumstances.

Yesterday I planned to replace the battery with an aftermarket. So I attempted to take the battery out but changed my mind because I was planning to drive the TL to Autozone and replace the battery in the parking lot. When I connected the old battery back and tried to start it, it did that horse sound you described, but wouldn't crank.

I took the old battery completely out and installed the new one, but still the same thing. After 2 - 3 hours of cursing up a storm and preparing to have the thing towed the next morning, I found this thread and tried what you did with the gas pedal thing. I also tightened the terminal connections to be sure.

Now it starts up fine without having to do the gas pedal thing. Also because I have a new battery it cranks right up. (No more slow turning over).

DeathMetal

iTrader: (2)

Awesome.

I am kind of surprised at two things: (1) How temperamental TLs become in cold weather when sitting for but a few days and (2) How quickly the battery drains when the car is not running. I drained my month-old Optima Red Top last night (thank GOD I have a battery charger at home)

I guess we can consider this a lessons learned, but seriously...DAMN was this frustrating.