2 coldest days = 2 rough starts - time for new battery?

Alright so far the temperature has dropped really low here two times and both times when I try to start my car up by my remote starter it tries to start for a second or two and then it just doesn't. So I have to go out and manually try and start it, I'll turn the key and hold it there and it's turning over like it wants to and it just doesn't. I turn the key and hold it again and it tries and tries and then finally starts up kinda rough and shakey and then it idles out fine and it's okay. The Red Top Optima battery that is in my car came with it when I bought the car in May, I know this battery has been in since atleast 2004...think it's time for a new one?

ok, i had the same problem with my remote starter and it does this because the remote starter probly goes by voltage and if the voltage of the battery gets too low(such as on a cold day) it will not start the car so to fix it i had it wired up to the tach(which you have cuz you have a z24) so now it does not matter how much voltage the battery has it always starts cuz it cranks the moter until the tach comes on or until a specified time has passed.

try that out and see what happens, im pretty sure you can wire it to the tach cuz almost all remote starters have this option.

I see what you're saying but when I go out to start it manually with the key it still doesn't start right up. I gotta hold the key on START until it cranks enough and finally starts.

oohhhh, well than in that case idk

dirty fuel filter, dying fuel pump, old spark plugs.. theres lots of stuff that causes that symptom.

Does it crank over well? usually if the batterys goin it will hold less and less of a charge till nothing left. Does it seem like its struggling or starts struggling after cranking for a bit?

never crank for more than 10-15sec or you risk killing your starter.

This is why you look for a battery with the highest CC amps you can find. Also use an oil with a very low viscosity so when the lower temps hit, makes for easier start ups. I run 5w20 full synthetic in the winter in my PT cruiser but my batter is getting up there in age so she hesitates for like 2 secs when its been only 3 degrees here.

it was negitive 31 F where i live today w/ wind chill that is. my car was a little hesitive to start but not too bad for as cold as it was.

have the battery load tested. if its ok make sure normal tune up stuff is good. otherwise just chock it up to the fact that its really cold out.