on a cold day with my little ones in the back... I was pissed.

Soooo, I've had problems with my TL starting in the past. I've had the battery drained by the hands free module, I've replaced the positive and negative terminals due to corrosion a few months ago, and I've had to clean battery acid in the engine bay from a loose battery cap leaking.

Today, I drove my car all day with zero problems until I went to pick up my oldest from middle school while sitting in the car rider line and the engine wouldn't crank. Popped the hood and flip the red positive terminal cap and green acid crap all over the terminal and on my new cable. I had 3 different people try to jump me and nothing, just a single click. I don't think it's my battery because I had plenty of juice for all of the interior lights, radio, windows, etc, everything... I didn't have to enter codes until I disconnected the cable. I removed the cable from the terminal, cleaned it with coke and a tooth brush, and reinstalled it... Nothing. Tried jumping it again and nothing. I'm thinking starter...

So, had it towed to local mechanic so it's either the cable again, the starter, or both... any thing to look for?

 

- Starter.
- Starter switch (in the steering column).
- Alternator if your battery isn't holding a charge.

 

Very weird

Same thin happened to me on two different occasions. Once last week and once about 8 months ago.


Everything lit up in the dash but when I turned the key, it made a single click and wouldn't try to start or turn over.

Both times I stood next to the car with the hood up, bitching an whining to myself. Hopped back in and it started no problem.

Really weird. I've been thinking about swapping my starter just for the hell of it. They're only about 70$ at advance auto with a coupon code. Can't hurt I guess.

 

Yeah, I'd have to guess it's the starter. Fairly easy DIY (hardest part is removing the battery base plate) and a good replacement starter can be had for less than $100. Hopefully your local mechanic won't try to rape you...

 

Check your ground cable...

 

Turned out to be the starter... Starts better than ever now.

 

 

My starter is shot too. I came back into Dallas from Thanksgiving in Oklahoma and stopped at a store, turned the key, and no clicking, no cracking, no sound, nothing, but plenty of battery power. I have been complaining about how noisy the starter is for several months but it never acted like it wouldn't start. I even said aloud to myself on my way back, in a rural town in south Oklahoma, "I gotta replace that starter" just because I hate the noise. Sure enough.. Bam. It quit on me.

But I'm glad it did not quit in southern Oklahoma. Instead it was just 1.5 miles from home. But still cost me a hundred for the tow. I tipped the guy since he was so fast about it.

 

Did he change/clean anything else? With the green stuff your getting there has to be other problems .. My tl is an 06 and no terminal issues at all .. nada ..

Coke & a tooth brush is a stop gap .. clean them properly, both the terminal & cable with a wire brush or course emery paper. Once cleaned properly coat them with vaseline.

 

ps.. 68,300 miles