Hello All,
Im encountering a problem where my TL wont start. Thought it was the battery so went to auto store and it tested good.
Terminals are clean wiring is good.

Here's the problem.
I put the key in the ignition and all lights turn on as normal. Right before I flip the key to crank the engine I hear one click ( as if battery is about to die ) then nothing happens. All lights on dash, interior lights, nothing works. It's like I lost complete power.

I then decided to beat on the starter and noticed my interior lights turn on. Proceeded to start the car and same thing. Once I attempt to crank, it makes one quick click and i lose all electrical.

Go out beat on starter,...etc..
Is it safe to say the problem IS the starter? I had the starter go out on me once before but I didnt lose power to my interior or dash lights.

Im thinking ignition switch, starter, relay.
Possibly cause im desperate in getting it fixed asap since i use this car to drive to the park n ride.

I may have to take off or work from home tomorrow just to try and get it fixed.

 

it could be a loose connection on the starter. Check all the cables attached to it.

Do you have a volt meter? Measure voltage on the battery before starting. Have someone else try to start the car. look at the drop. if it's .2 volts that means the solenoid is turning to start the car but the starter isn't drawing. More than that and the starter is working. No .2V drop means no solenoid/switch to get the car to turn on.

 

Would you be able to explain the loss of electrical power?
Could a bad starter cause that symptom?

That brief click ( 1 click ) I hear is the starter engaging but then all dies right after.

edit: or main relay?

 

Probably Ignition switch.

 

removed starter and it tests fine
Battery wires are good and corrosion free.

Replaced ignition switch, and same thing. Checked the starter solenoid on the MICU and tested good.

I try to start it and once i get to crank, I hear one click and then lose all electricity.
If I disconnect and reconnect battery I get power but once i crank it does the same thing.

When I lost power after cranking, I checked the power seats fuse and have no power going to it. Power seats are on 12v constant so I should at least something.
Disconnected and reconnected battery and checked the seat fuses and this time they had power but lost it after attempting to crank.

Im desperate to get this working but can't think of what else to troubleshoot.

 

Check all grounds for corrosion and condition? Pull on them lightly to see if they're sound.

Seems like a bad battery or low on charge. Try jump starting it with another car to add more power.

 

I've found battery tests to be misleading sometimes. try buying a new one just to test it. if it doesn't work you can always return it..

 

Tried jump starting with my pilot to no avail.

I checked the ground cable on the passenger side mount ( are there others? )
GOing to check the one under the air box right now.

The ground that the battery connects to is also good.

 

This may or may not help cause it's for 07 and later.

Starter relays 1 and 2?

 

have you tried tapping the starter with a hammer?

I had what sounds like the exact same issue with my car (turn key, ONE click, nothing) and it was my starter

Tap it with a hammer or other hard object and try starting it. If it starts, the starter is your issue. This tapping works on almost all starters... I actually drove my car for a week with a hammer on my passenger side seat cause I'd have to tap it everytime.. until my new starter came in

 

LOL nice one Thor.

 

So.........I solved it.

Summary of what I tested.

Tested starter on my garage floor by jumping the connections and it works.

What really annoyed me was the loss of electrical when I would attempt to crank it.
I even put my meter to the switch on the starter to see if i got power to it when cranking. It would jump up to 10v and then everything would die.

This time I decided to check the power wires again after I lost electrical when cranking.
I had 12.4v at the battery terminal
12.4v at the wire that exits the battery terminal.
Checked from starter to battery and no power
Then checked battery to fuse box and no power

I then remembered I had crimped both the starter wire and fuse box into a butt connector- to a 2 gauge wire about 5 or 6 years ago. ( upgraded battery wires and bought a new battery terminal ). So i started to unravel the tape. Boy was there a lot of tape! Next thing I see is the battery wire falling to the ground. It corrided at the butt connector and basically ate it away.

That's why electrical would die out when cranking. Wires were barely touching.

 

Yep, I did beat the starter which restored electrical but, when m original starter went out. I still had function of all my dash and interior lights. What puzzled me was why I was losing 12v when cranking.

 

That 'mod' would have definitely been the first place to look


Sometimes we overlook the obvious but glad it was fixed!

 

You know whats fucking hilarious, I posted this suggestion and read this thread yesterday. After work I went out to my car and had the exact same issue. Turn key, one click, lost power everywhere. Tried a couple more times and it started.


Looks like my starter is probably going out. what an awesome coincidence

 

ive been kicking myself in the ass about this. Could of had it fixed in 10 minutes tuesday night when it happend.
Instead, I spent all of yesterday trying to solve it. Took apart my steering column, tested solenoids, remove the starter and meanwhile it was this stupid cable.

Even my wife said im a "douche" for overlooking the basic.

 

My first thoughts were in line with her. Some guy wasted a bunch of members time when it was all due to a mod gone bad. But then I looked in the mirror and thought, Dude, I can't remember what I did a year ago let alone 5 or 6 .

Glad you got it running again.

 

"I then remembered I had crimped both the starter wire and fuse box into a butt connector- to a 2 gauge wire about 5 or 6 years ago. ( upgraded battery wires and bought a new battery terminal ). So i started to unravel the tape. Boy was there a lot of tape! Next thing I see is the battery wire falling to the ground. It corrided at the butt connector and basically ate it away"

^ Lol. How is it an upgrade to cut a cable and then connect it back together with a butt connector? Thats a ticking time bomb. :thumbsdown : :p oke::c heers: