I have an '05 Acura TL with no known mechanical issues. Last Saturday night, I went out to dinner with the family in Seattle (20mi one way) and drove back around 10pm. Everything was fine.

Sunday morning, at 6:20am I got in the car which is parked in a cold (40F) and dark garage, turned the key. The interior lights and radio came on, but the engine would not turn. Turned it off.

Attempt #2. Checked the transmission (it was in Park), made sure my foot was on the brake (it was), turned the key again. Interior lights come up, radio comes on (I turned it off), AC comes on (I turned it off), but the car did not turn on. Turned it off.

Attempt #3. Trying to listen carefully, I turned the key again. I think I heard a click, the lights turned on but the car did not turn on.

I took my wife's car and drove away.

Attempt #4. Tried the same thing later in the day. Nothing worked. I tried to jump start it with my other car which was running and parked next to the Acura in the garage. I think I heard a click and nothing more. Did not sound like engine was turning.

Attempt #5. Tried it first thing on Monday morning. I think I heard the car click but engine did not turn.

Attempt $6. I googled a few things and read about the possibility that one of the fuses might be blown. Wouldn't it be great if it was just a cheap part? I read that the key is whether there is any sound (a click) coming after I turn the key. I went to check. I turned the key and heard a click but it sounded a little faint. I turned the key again to get a better sense of when and what I heard and...whoa...the engine turned for a split sec and the car started! WTH?!

What is going on? Is there a demon in my car?

 

bad starter most likely. do a search, plenty of threads on this.

 

Agree with NFN, appears to be the starter. Wack the starter with a hammer or a wrench (not too hard), it it starts then you'll know it is bad (brushes).

 

starter on the way out, replace it ASAP.

 

take a hammer/ the club/ something hard and wack the starter and try starting.
If it starts. Your starter is on the way out.

The "wack" method seems to give the starter one last bit of life which I consider is to get you to the autoparts store for replacement.

 

Just had the same problem. Turned out to be the Positive battery cable not supplying the right amount of juice to the starter. At this age, it's likely corroded as mine was. A lot less expensive than replacing the starter.
.
.

 

^Normally if the positive cable is suspect, you'll see the lights dim when trying to start, but if the lights are nice and bright and don't dim, starter problem. Of course one can put a MM on the starter connection to be certain there is 12 volts available, or jump the solenoid to check.

 

In my case, nothing dimmed. The starter wouldn't even click.

 

^Unusual, if the circuit is working correctly there will be power drawn to the starter, but not enough to energize the starter, but have never seen it where the interior lights didn't dim slightly when trying to use the starter in this situation.

 

Remember, the + battery cable is a T configuration. One way goes to the starter and the other feeds the rest of the car so its likely that line got rusted more.

 

yep bad starter. Had the same thing happen to me 2 days ago.