2007 Acura MDX Not Starting - not the battery or alternator

[samanthabrewer]

My 2007 Acura MDX is giving me problems starting. It started almost a week ago when I went to crank it up and all I heard was click click click and nothing. It started with a jump. We got it tested and the battery and alternator tested fine. Then it just cranked up on its own. The next day it cranked but very sluggishly. Wound up and then finally cranked. Next day nothing. Click click click. Got a jump - didnt work the first 5 times we tried. Then someone wiggled the positive post on the battery and it started (as a jump).

We tightened the post and it worked like a charm for two days. And then today again with the no start. Doesn't turn over or anything. Just turn the key and nothing. The lights, radio, air, horn all work, but not the engine.

Took it to get tested again and yes, the battery is still A OK. Started with a jump. The auto store fellow seemed to think it may be the 'Starter Relay' but the Acura Dealership didn't even seem to ever heard of it or think that my MDX has one. Also, after the last jump...now my power window controls on the driver side are no longer working properly. It will roll down the back windows. Won't roll down the passenger window and it will roll down the driver window but not with one push like it did previously. Have to hold it down now.

ANY IDEAS??? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[TexasHonda]

The starter relay is on the starter assembly and is called the solenoid. Solenoids can and do go bad. They have two large copper electrical contacts that are impacted by a moving solenoid pin when you turn the key to Start. W/ time/use the copper is eroded and moving solenoid pin will only hit one contact securely w/ a weak contact to the other. Result is high resistance electrical connection and weak current flow, leading to either starter won't turn at all (click, click, click,,,) or weak starter turnover.

Solution is either replace the contacts (possible on some starters, but I don't know if MDX starter is among those) or replace starter w/ rebuilt. There are many sources for the electrical contacts (ebay, etc) if the starter is repairable. Usually about $10 for contacts. Easy repair, but removing the starter may not be so easy.

This assumes that whoever checked your battery verifiied your battery connections were secure. Similar result can occur w/ a poor battery connection.

good luck

[Jeepster]

I'd put a 20$ bill on a no good battery rather that a solenoid, have you checked each indoor lights, sometimes child or passenger play with the lights and leave them on as they leave endind up in a dead battery.

Here in Northern Quebec, once a battery went down 2-3 times....you simply change it as it'S ability to keep the charge is not good anymore.

Check this out, but like said....i'd put 20$ bill on a bad bettery way before any solenoid troubles, but hey....can be wrong....let us know how it turns.

CIAO.

[JL_SS]

Originally Posted by Jeepster

I'd put a 20$ bill on a no good battery rather that a solenoid, have you checked each indoor lights, sometimes child or passenger play with the lights and leave them on as they leave endind up in a dead battery.

Here in Northern Quebec, once a battery went down 2-3 times....you simply change it as it'S ability to keep the charge is not good anymore.

Check this out, but like said....i'd put 20$ bill on a bad bettery way before any solenoid troubles, but hey....can be wrong....let us know how it turns.

CIAO.

I agree. The first thing I would do is replace the battery and make sure the terminal connections were tight. We had something very similiar happen, the battery kept testing as good. I tighened all the terminals several times. Lights would work but engine wouldn't crank intermittently. Replaced the battery and the problem went away. Even though it tested OK, it was probably on the edge.

[Jeepster]

+1 Very well explained.

[sweetadad]

Originally Posted by JL_SS

I agree. The first thing I would do is replace the battery and make sure the terminal connections were tight. We had something very similiar happen, the battery kept testing as good. I tighened all the terminals several times. Lights would work but engine wouldn't crank intermittently. Replaced the battery and the problem went away. Even though it tested OK, it was probably on the edge.

What year is yours? So is it safe to assume that the life of the battery in the X is 2-3 years tops?

[JL_SS]

Originally Posted by sweetadad

What year is yours? So is it safe to assume that the life of the battery in the X is 2-3 years tops?

The battery was 3 years old. I think our battery life was affected by the dealer letting the battery die a few times during prep. When we picked it up, they had to jump it because we spent too long going through the Navi/DVD system with the engine off. I've never had a Honda OEM battery last more than 4 yrs.

[adr5]

Each time you started the car did you drive it around enough to get a full charge on the battery? If not, that is the problem. You want to make sure that after the battery died you got a full charge before you shut it down. How was the battery tested? Did they do a load test on it or just a voltage check with a volt meter? You really want a load test to check the battery condition. I too have a 2007 and except for a build up of crud on the terminals, I need to clean it again this weekend, I have had no issue with the battery.

[Will4271]

Maybe wait for the poster to reply

[samanthabrewer]

It's a 2007. Original battery. And it happened again! Saturday it gave me a sluggish crank. And then later when I went to leave, it was a no go. Got a jump and it started just fine. Now it gives my driveway plenty of shade because it hasn't started since.

The battery test was just a volt meter. But maybe I SHOULD just replace the battery and give it a shot. No lights have been left on or anything. Since that automatically comes on and off I never manually cut them on. Only have a baby - so I know he's not doing it either. Hah. I wish it was an easy explanation.

Husband wants to take it today to get a diagnostic test ran. Hopefully we'll find something out that way. We called an alternator shop and explained the problem, but they didn't think it was the starter. They thought it may be electrical. Ugh....

[adr5]

A voltmeter alone won't tell you if the battery is bad. I think the battery is probably the culprit.

[JL_SS]

Originally Posted by adr5

A voltmeter alone won't tell you if the battery is bad. I think the battery is probably the culprit.

+ 1

[Will4271]

++1

[Jeepster]

The worst thing you are actually doing is always starting the X with a jump charge....this is really risky as you might actually burn out one of the expensive ECU modules in this car, and you would learn pretty quick that it was way less expensive to just replace a dead battery then to keep on playing with fire boosting up the car to make it work again.

I think you got plenty of signs on this one....just change that dead battery it is now obvious that it is not good anymore.

Voltmeter test tells you nothing....load test would have already told you the obvious....your battery is dead....and gone.

I think it all depends on the way you use drive the car....if you drive a lot the vehicle or simply start the car each and every block, and never let it ride to recharge, i make 60Km per day to go to work, no stop signs or traffic light stops...all highway driving mileage, and i made 6 good years with my Honda Accord 2003 battery, and it was still good when i replaced it...Up here in North during winter season....nobody wants to be 'stalled' with a dead battery and a cold frozen engine not starting. I think that after 6 years....it was a good idea to swap it for a new one before i fall out of luck.

The X only have 3 years done....let's see how long before it needs replacement.

[samanthabrewer]

Well we ended up replacing the battery, which luckily was still under warranty at Acura - so we got it for free! And now, it works like a charm. My husband had ultimately decided something was draining the battery - so time will tell. But wanted to thank you all for posting replies and suggestions. Hopefully the battery will take care of the problem all together. The MDX is back on the road! :O)