for about the past week, when ive gone to start my car cold, it has acted weird. the starter will sound very weak as if its about to die, but there doesnt seem to be a problem and the engine catches fine. for whatever reason, after i start it the first time, i can turn it off and start it again and its fine. however, earlier tonight something else weird happened. i went out to start it and it also stuggled to get running. the starter was weak again, and i let go of the key when i felt it catch and it spat and sputtered and almost died, then revved to about 1800, then finally settled down. thats the first time ive had that happen though, and im not really worried about that just yet unless the 2 problems might be related. what might i have going on?

 

Possibility: weak battery, runs down overnight making engine hard to start. Once engine is started the alternator brings battery up and engine is happy. Have battery checked.

 

thanks, ill be shocked if thats the problem considering thats a late '06 battery in there but ill look at that anyway and if it is bad ill replace it.

 

What z28pete said! Just replaced a battery that was doing the same thing. This battery was brand new out of the store. It had a bad cell in it. Barely turned engine over and when the engine started, the rpms would go up then back down to normal idle and sometimes even kill the engine. Battery showed good with a volt meter but when put under a load test, failed.

 

oh really? thats weird. im an automotive major in college, and today i brought it in the shop and tested the battery. voltage came out fine, alternator came out fine. the only thing test i didnt do was a load test, but ill remember what you said. thanks alot!