Power Shuts Off Then Turns Back On

Randomly my car will just turn off about five seconds after I start it and it wont turn back on until it feels like it, ussually like 10-15 seconds. Its happened once when I was actually driving, I had no power steering and I couldn't get the car to do anything. Also, when I go to press unlock when Im getting in the car the lights will dim. If I just keep pressing it the lights just go more and more dim each time and then go back to normal then dim again. And when I start the car now and it doesnt feel like turning all the way off it will just dim all the lights like in a slow pulse like its gonna die or something but the engine doesn't seem like its strugling. Is it the battery or alternator or what? There are no CELs or anything.

sounds like the battery. when its cold outside, my car likes to spudder and die the first time i start it in the moring, but after that it starts and idles fine. i'd check the charge of the battery, and see if its a good cell, if its bad i'd recomend spending the extra $ and getting an optimum red top.

Pretty stupid question but how do I check the battery charge. Those voltmeter things from Home Depot? And I'm probly selling this car soon anyway, for the love of god I need an eclipse, so I'll just put in a normal battery if thats the problem.

if you can get the car running, drive to a place that sells battries. cosco, napa, sears. they'll check it for you and tell you if it need to be replaced.

Two things that I know of cause wacky bullshit like that. Bad alternator (especially on 1Gs) and bad ECU (again, usually 1Gs). Battery could do it as well, and though less likely IMO, thats the best place to start because its easiest to check and cheaper to replace. But you can stick a voltmeter on the battery terminals with the car running, and it should be over 13. Hopefully 13.5-14. That checks the alternator, not the battery. Its hard to check the battery with a voltmeter since there is no load on it. Autoparts stores should have the machines to check the battery under a simulated load. Also, plenty of boneheads have been screwed by battery terminals touching the hood. If it happens going over bumps, the person usually doesnt have a battery hold down ;) Etc.

Thanks for the info guys. I'll take it to one of those places.

On the subject of battery terminals touching hoods though. My friend was sitting on my ex gf's hood and after like 5 mins he jumped up and yelled and ran around like crazy. When he turned around there was a hole burned through his pants. I guess the hood was bent low enough or something to touch the battery. lol

you can start the car and take the negiteve terminal off the battery if the cars stauls u need a new alternator. to check the batter a volt meter will work anywhere from 12.8-14 i would check that when the car is off.

you can start the car and take the negiteve terminal off the battery if the cars stauls u need a new alternator.
That wont hurt the car?

Would I need something like this to test the battery and alternator?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=42291&item=4336471293&rd=1

http://www.multimeterwarehouse.com/SM4380.htm

Anyone?

no thats how i check mine all the time

your car starts off the battery then runs on the alternator so if it dies then the alternator is junk