I was filling up the other day and i left my key/starter in the Ignition2 stage, where the radio and everything else is on. By the time i put in $30 of gas i went to drive away but to only find that my car hard a very hard time starting. It turned over very slowly where the 2nd rollover it seemed to stall but it actually kicked in. While sitting there for a min to insure that it was going to say running, i noticed my radio was displaying code, so it actually seemed like it did die for the split second just before it kicked in. It never did that before, but i have noticed lately that the starts havent been as responsive. Could this be the battery or alternator... or can it be something else?

Thanks for reading...

 

weird. all i know is that when you leave it in the ON or II position, the fuel pump is running. when you take the cap off, the fuel pump pressure goes away. So you dont have any fuel pressure. Thats why they say turn the car off while filling the car.thats all i know, but i dunno if it will help you.

 

Battery and/or cables.

 

Ditto. If the radio had the code on it, something is loose and got disconnected temporarily...

 

Hmmm... today the car seems to be dieing slowly. When i start the car it takes 2-3 very slow rotations before it catches. I briefly checked the cables and they seemed fine, but i was more or less looking at the bat light which i dont see a green light on it. Now im in direct sunlight so my hand was doing an soso job to shade it, but it was hard to tell. Would the battery die in a 03 about now? When the car starts its great. Also, the check engine light now has come on. It wasnt like that his morning but its now. It did come on a week ago yet it turned off a day later.

 

I'd replace the battery. Five years is asking a lot of a factory battery.

 

my kirkland battery died in 2 1/2 years. but if you have a costco membership, those are good batteries for a good price. comes with a free 3 year replacement warranty too.

 

Well i dropped it off today and they confirmed, its the battery. Thanks for the heads up guys!

Whiles its there i'm changing out the rear breaks, they also noted that one of the engine mounts needs to be replaced. They said that it would be $400 to replace that, its that about right? They also warned me about the lower ball joints, them to would be around $400... does that sound about right also? Its scary to think that my car was in a month or so ago when i got the timing belt done and nothing was mentioned, granted it was at a different location.

 

what is this dealer? if so, you can get the ball joints done cheaper else where.
also if you are gonna do one motor mount, you might do them all if the labor is the same. maybe even the tranny mounts too.

 

Yeah this was at a dealer... thanks for the heads up, ill call around to see what i can find!

PS - i cant believe on how quick my car starts now, its like new again. I cant remember ever my car starting this nicely before. When i turn the key my engine comes on instantaniously (sp?!?!).

 

yea if you are gonna speed 400 on replaced 1 mount you mind as well spend the little extra to get them all done =)... and glad to hear your up and running again! =).