# Acura won't start **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [March 11, 2009, 12:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/acura-wont-start/27601 "2009-03-11T12:24:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Howard\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecc23a/32.png) [@Howard\_Cinnamon](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Howard_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 12:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/acura-wont-start/27601/1 "2009-03-11T12:24:56Z")
Hi, I have a frustration problem. I own a 2005 Acura RSX with 54,000 miles on it. Several times during the past week, I have turned the key to start it, but gotten no response. The lights, windows, radio, ac and everything electrical continues to work, but the engine (starter) does nothing. Each time this has happened I have waited a few minutes and tried again and the car started as if nothing was wrong. I took it to the dealer and they said they eliminated everything electrical, but could not find anything else wrong either. HELP!!! Howard Cinnamon, Rockville Centre, NY ---
**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 12:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/acura-wont-start/27601/2 "2009-03-11T12:38:24Z")
You can see that the dealer can’t, or won’t, help you. Ask around for a good independent shop. Write down all the symptoms of the problem as they occur. This will help the mechanic find the intermittent problem. There is often something less than perfect with a faulty part, even though, at the moment, the fault isn’t expressing itself. Sure, we (me) have multiple guesses; but, that’s what your mechanic if for…to examine a number of “best guesses”. ---
**Author:** ![Howard\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecc23a/32.png) [@Howard\_Cinnamon](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Howard_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 1:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/acura-wont-start/27601/3 "2009-03-11T13:48:31Z")
Thanks for your suggestion. Of course the next problem is finding a reliable independent shop. if I knew of one, I would not be going to the dealer to being with. I’m sure you would agree, as well, that offering informed suggestions to the mechanic may often start them off in the right direction so any “guesses” you might want to offer would be appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 2:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/acura-wont-start/27601/4 "2009-03-11T14:39:26Z")
If the vehicle has an automatic transmission, try shifting into neutral the next time it won’t start. If the engine starts when doing this, there’s a problem with the park/neutral safety switch on the transmission. Tester ---
**Author:** ![Howard\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecc23a/32.png) [@Howard\_Cinnamon](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Howard_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 2:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/acura-wont-start/27601/5 "2009-03-11T14:47:20Z")
Thanks for the suggestion, I will try that next time, but I did try it the last time and found that the shift lever would not move. I assumed it is locked until engine starts as a safety measure to avoid starting the car while in gear. Am I wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 3:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/acura-wont-start/27601/6 "2009-03-11T15:03:01Z")
Turn the ignition switch to the run position so that the dash lights come on, step on the brake and shift into neutral. Tester ---
**Author:** ![Howard\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecc23a/32.png) [@Howard\_Cinnamon](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Howard_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 3:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/acura-wont-start/27601/7 "2009-03-11T15:06:28Z")
Thanks!!!