My 05 TL has got almost 140k, I've replaced about 4 or 5 batteries over the years, I know that's not a unique problem with these cars. I know a bad battery when I see one.

Recently, the car has been refusing to start. I turn the key to start and hear a single click. I turn it to start again, single click. I can repeat this over and over and the car will eventually start. Battery was fine, so I replaced the starter.

It's an OEM remanufactured starter from the dealer. But the problem didn't go away. The car still refuses to start until I try anywhere from three to twenty times.

I put the car in drive and tried to start the car, and no click. So it's not the neutral safety switch. Also, the key light on the dash is not blinking so it's not an immobilizer issue.

I poured through the service manual and there was mention of a starter cut relay but not much more detail on it. Could this be in play? Is there something else I should be looking at?
Thanks much!

 

Have you explored the possibility your negative cable is faulty? Or the connections?

 

The negative cable to the starter was slipping out after I replaced it. When it was out of place and I tried to start the car I didn't get a click sound.
I tightened the negative connector on the starter and never had a problem with getting the click sound after that.

I did take the negative cable on the battery off, wire brush cleaned it up and put it back on to no avail. I did both the battery connection and the connection to the vehicle frame.
I didn't think to replace it, I guess I could try that but have a hard time thinking that's the problem since I cleaned it up and didn't notice anything wrong with it.

 

The cables have been known to corrode inside .. don't rule it out ..

 

Yep, but most of the time it's the positive cable connection at the battery terminal that gets corroded. Remove it and clean it, even if it looks OK. I highly recommend purchasing some of that battery terminal corrosion prevention spray. It's less than $10 at Wallyworld.

 

I went to autozone and picked up a battery cable.

I'm going to replace the Battery neg to frame cable tonight. I wasn't able to get a good look at the positive cable since I didn't have a whole lot of time and it has that plastic around it but when I replace the neg cable I'll get a better look at it - might replace that as well.

 

Sorry to disappear for a while there.

You were right, last week I picked up the positive cable assembly from the dealer's parts department. The part is 32410-SEP-A00. Since I replaced that the car has been starting perfectly.

I went with the dealer part since I couldn't find anything similar to it at Autozone. At $45 I think it was reasonably priced.

Wish I would have done some research here before putting in a new starter, but it was kind of a knee-jerk reaction.

Thanks!

 

not to highjack the thread but i have a question.. i had the same problem with the car starting. I hit the starter with a hammer and it DOES start. Is the starter going bad??

 

Ummm, was it really necessary to post the same question in 3 old threads about the same topic? To answer your question, if you can do this repeatedly, I would say yes, you need a new starter. If you did it once and it started, who is to say it wasn't a coincidence?

 

yeah i think it was necessary. thanks for your response. ill replace the starter.

 

So i have an 05 tl 85k miles and after being at school for 6 hours i go to turn it on and the lights came on so i didn't think anything BUT i go to turn the ignition and it only clicks and the lights dim...

NOT the first time this has happened, happened a few weeks ago after i got back from vacation and now again, COULD this be an HFL issue or i was thinking alternator????

- And yes i have posted this in 2 other threads in hopes that i can get a broad perspective on the matter since i am a student with limited income and time to invest in this so i would like to get a one and done fix

 

Seriously - "hit it with a hammer" probably shouldn't be in your troubleshooting checklist.