Sluggish Starting

[goodoldpapa]

My GA has been sluggishly starting for the last 3 days, usually the first start of the morning then fine the rest of the day. Today is the first day that it has done it during the day. I stopped at Advance Auto on way home and they ran a test on it. I'm attaching the results of it to get your feedback on the possibilities. The battery was replaced in March 2010, the alternator in November 2010. Thanks.

[thephantom1492]

Define "sluggishly starting".

Depending on what you will describe exactly, all those tests might have been done for no real purpose than charge you money.

[goodoldpapa]

The car when I first turn the ignition to start it acts like it doesn't want to turn over, then it turns over and does just fine. Until today, it only happened when it sit overnight then attempted to start it first thing of morning. They ran the test for free, but I didn't buy any parts. If I'm gonna spend $$$ for a starter, that better be the problem .

[Tech II]

Have you checked the battery cable connections at the battery, for looseness or corrosion?

[thephantom1492]

First, check out the battery connection, should be oxidation free and unable to be twisted by hand. if it move, retighten, you might have found the problem. If oxidated, disconnect, clean, reconnect.

In the morning, take a voltmeter BEFORE starting the car and check the battery voltage.

It could be a parasitic load that drain slowly your battery, causing it to be partially discharged in the morning. First crank would be hard due to the reduced power available, but then the alternator charge it back for the next crank in the day (and hotter engine and battery, more librificated parts due to recent use)

[goodoldpapa]

I checked the battery connections around midday today, they were pretty clean and oxidation-free but I played it safe and cleaned them again and made sure they were good and tight when I put them back on. Drove the car into town to run some errands, and each start up now is responding slower and slower. getting gradually slower each day.

[thephantom1492]

So you did not checked the battery voltage before starting it up in the morning yet?

[Tech II]

Need to have battery checked, need to have charging system checked, and if nothing comes up, then a parasitic draw test....

[rkvons]

A bad starter will exhibit those exact symptoms. I changed one out recently on a '98 Montana and the way it started afterwards was remarkable.

[goodoldpapa]

Problem wound up being the starter. Replaced it and the battery cables for safe measure as they were 10 years old anyway. Starts like a champ! Thanks for your help.