Battery or starter going out?

[Yarflana]

Situation: sometimes, and only about 1 of every 15 starts does it do this whether warm or cold, when I turn the key to start the engine, instead of starting right up, the engine turns over a few times and sounds like it is trying to get going enough to start, but always starts. It always ends up starting, however, so I have never had a situation where it tried to start and wouldn't.

Concerning maintenance and mileage, my car has 100K on it, just replaced the plugs with stock iridiums, battery is about 4 years old, oil is Kendall synthetic, regular maintenance always (oil change every 5,000 miles on 95% highway miles).

Could be battery on the brink since it is 4 years old.

In the morning when it is cold, even when it is 30 degrees, I don't ever remember this being a problem and always starts right up.

I have never had a car that needed a new starter, so I am not sure if that is going out, or if I really don't have a problem. I want to get any pointers you can think of and nail this down before I do have a problem and I don't want to go to the auto shop either, but I do have a good relationship with them and they would likely check my electrical system at no charge.

Let me know if you have other questions.

Thanks for your input as always,
Pat

[walt101786]

i will check on ur alternator just to see if it is ur alternator....start from there on and see....i would say test ur battery...ur starter, ur alternator and ur grounds with an Ohm meter and see which ones are bad...i would say most likely is ur alternator

[Yarflana]

Ok will do. Is there a DIY to using an ohm meter to check all this? I have the equipment...just been a while since I have used it. I know that Ohm measure resistance, so the lower the Ohms, the less resistance. Perhaps what I am wanting to see is if a certain spot on these has higher resistance and is inhibiting current flow right?

[why?]

Your battery will be going soon if it is not already going. If it is not the battery, it could be real bad.

i'd be shocked if it wasn't the battery though.

[edmscan]

On my Yaris .. my battery died suddenly. It was about 5 years old .. and I just about had to get towed to the dealership for a replacement. I think I would look seriously at the battery being the problem.

My car has run better since I have replaced the battery. It starts better and just runs better. I was having problems with the car wanting to stall in 1st gear, but since the battery replacement it is much better.

[Yarflana]

Ok, that is what I thought. I am looking to get one of these bad boys...http://shop.microimageonline.com/BRAILLE-115-lb-drycell-battery-B14115.htm

Thanks guys.

[edmscan]

I would be concerned about that Braille battery. I know I wouldn't buy it for here .. as it wouldn't last the winter having so little CCA's. I know in TX you have other concerns probably but from what I have read here, the TX heat can have its affect on batteries. I would consider something else .. unless you have solid information that the battery will last in your climate and circumstances.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Most likely your battery due to the age. imo, unless you track your car and could use all the weight savings you can get, I'd skip those light weight batteries. How about Optima batteries? Supposedly will withstand the hottest/coldest places. ;)