[Ahnjobonjo]

My wife drives a 07 tsx automatic.
The original starter went bad so i changed it out. Bought brand new starter from oreillys. Installed it and voila, it starts.

2 months later to this morning, the wife gets in the car and tries to start the car. She comes back inside to tell me the car is not starting.

I go outside to see whats up.
I insert key into on position, lights are all on but its dimmed. When i turn to crank, all the lights die out. No click no crank of course.

I assumed weak battery. So i go back to bed and will get battery later.

That afternoon i went to fix problem. I press unlock on the key remote and theres no response from the car unlocking. I use the key, open the door. I stick key into ignition and turn to on position. Now theres absolutely no power.

So i removed the current battery. I went and bought a new battery. Came back installed the new battery.

Key into ignition ans turned to on position. All lights are on and bright. I turn over the engine. Lights are all still on, no click, no crank still

Now i assume its a bad starter.

So i removed the starter and bench tested it. It worked.

Now i dont know what to do next nor what is the problem.

 

[merlinj79]

Check fuses?

Also have you checked the three braided ground straps? Facing the engine from the front, two are on the left and one is on the right but deeper down. Those need to be intact, not frayed or corroded, and the connectors need to be tight and clean. I'd remove, clean, and tighten all of the connectors. The starter gets it's ground from the engine block, which grounds to the chassis via those braided straps. The battery grounds directly to the chassis.

Also, if the starter is an off-brand or reman, it might still be bad under load even if it spins on the bench. But I think you'd hear it click at least.

 

[CalgaryTSX]

I would recommend some kind, even a temporary, in-cabin voltmeter. You really need to monitor the voltage closely until the issue is resolved.

Next I would recommend to connect an OBDII scanner. Check that the ECU is alive and communicating and check for any DTC's.

These 1st Gen's are getting very old now and Honda foolishly mounted the ECU under the center dash, close the floor mats and under the heater core.
There was a recall on the 1st Gen's to inspect and install a small plastic cover on the ECU.
For any weird 1st Gen TSX problem, removing and inspecting the ECU for any corrosion should always be a step to take.

 

[Ahnjobonjo]

Check fuses?

Also have you checked the three braided ground straps? Facing the engine from the front, two are on the left and one is on the right but deeper down. Those need to be intact, not frayed or corroded, and the connectors need to be tight and clean. I'd remove, clean, and tighten all of the connectors. The starter gets it's ground from the engine block, which grounds to the chassis via those braided straps. The battery grounds directly to the chassis.

Also, if the starter is an off-brand or reman, it might still be bad under load even if it spins on the bench. But I think you'd hear it click at least.

Yes i checked all the fuses. Nothing blown.
Yes i re-checked all the ground wires. I even checked continuity from all the points of the engine block to the chasis. All good.

The starter did click and then yes spun on the bench test. I understand that just cause it is spinning, it doesn't necessary mean its able to turn the flywheel.

 

[Ahnjobonjo]

I would recommend some kind, even a temporary, in-cabin voltmeter. You really need to monitor the voltage closely until the issue is resolved.

Next I would recommend to connect an OBDII scanner. Check that the ECU is alive and communicating and check for any DTC's.

These 1st Gen's are getting very old now and Honda foolishly mounted the ECU under the center dash, close the floor mats and under the heater core.
There was a recall on the 1st Gen's to inspect and install a small plastic cover on the ECU.
For any weird 1st Gen TSX problem, removing and inspecting the ECU for any corrosion should always be a step to take.

ECU is still alive and well.

 

[Ahnjobonjo]

Took the off brand starter to autozone for their bench test.
Associate told me that since im under warranty still that i can take a new one and install it. if the car started then just to call and process the warranty replacement.

So i took the new in box starter home and installed it.

Voila! it starts!

 

[Yankee1957]

My wife drives a 07 tsx automatic.
The original starter went bad so i changed it out. Bought brand new starter from oreillys. Installed it and voila, it starts.

2 months later to this morning, the wife gets in the car and tries to start the car. She comes back inside to tell me the car is not starting.

I go outside to see whats up.
I insert key into on position, lights are all on but its dimmed. When i turn to crank, all the lights die out. No click no crank of course.

I assumed weak battery. So i go back to bed and will get battery later.

That afternoon i went to fix problem. I press unlock on the key remote and theres no response from the car unlocking. I use the key, open the door. I stick key into ignition and turn to on position. Now theres absolutely no power.

So i removed the current battery. I went and bought a new battery. Came back installed the new battery.

Key into ignition ans turned to on position. All lights are on and bright. I turn over the engine. Lights are all still on, no click, no crank still

Now i assume its a bad starter.

So i removed the starter and bench tested it. It worked.

Now i dont know what to do next nor what is the problem.

Must have absolutely clean connections the starter relay may have a dead spot on the relay when starter is installed peck on starter relay to see if it engages if it does replace starter again with new one always purchase lifetime warranty parts the higher costs will offset replacement costs.