Hi, my fiancé bought a new car and is selling her '04 TL. It sat for the winter...I started it a couple times but we the car was buried in snow for most of the winter here in CT. I charged the battery a couple weeks ago and she started up fine. Other than tires needing air everything seemed fine.

My fiancé went to a car wash to clean the inside and when she tried to start it nothing happened...just clicking...so she was thinking starter (had it replaced with a rebuild less than 6 months ago)...she didn't notice the crazy electric behavior you'll see in but that doesn't mean they were not happening.

We had it towed home, I pulled battery, cleaned terminals on it and the cables...checked all fuses....electronics are behaving weirdly as you can see in the video. I read about the problem with ACC relay and fuse so I just replaced both. Again, as you'll see in the video it didn't make any difference. I hooked my durango up directly to battery wires (with no battery...same deal)...I even took one of my 2 boat batteries that has 1330 CCA and it just does the same thing. I can't imagine it is the starter...am thinking ignigtion switch/terminal/wiring harness or some other relay....any one see anything like this?

 

Did you have the battery checked at a parts store? Our cars do really odd things with a bad battery/low voltage. Sounds like a bad battery from the video.

 

No but as I stated I connected one of my 2 wakeboard boat batteries...12V but 1330 CCA vs. the existing battery which is 700.....

 

it could be a loose connection on the starter itself! Check the wires leading tot the starter! The pulsing looks like the car is drawing power to start but the starter isn't moving.

The rapid clicking sound you hear is the starter relay clicking, trying to get power from the battery to turn the starter. This symptom is classic of bad battery.

If you get no click/noise when you go to start, it could be the ignition switch or the starter. Tap/hit the starter with the tire iron in the trunk and try to start.

 

Did you resolve your problem?

 

Check your grounds too while you're at it.