for years ive had intermittant issues with the starting of my97 taurus. you turn the key and sometimes it just goes clik. after five or six turns it starts. my jiffy lube guy said the negative battery terminal was loose . could this have been my issue.

 

Could be a connectivity issue,, starter relay, starter solenoid, or even the starter itself.. Also,, ignition switch power distribution out to the starter relay is through the trans range sensor.. Same sympton in neutral?

 

its been doing this for 11 years.ive replaced the starter, battery cables, neutral switch, and then it turned out to be two shorted cells in the battery , i replaced the battery and it was fine for a year and then it came back. electric speicalist traced it to a loose wire under the dash and it was ok for a year. then it came back. advance auto took a free look at it and it a looose wire on the battery neutral terminal was found. after it was tightened it did it like crazy for the rest of the day and now the next day it seems fixed. its gone again. i love the car, it was a gift from my relative who died the next day so ive kept her. any thoughts. how much is the transmission range sensor