Warm weather = easier starts, right?

[Jeff7]

Car: '97 Hyundai Elantra GLS with almost 100k miles on it.

It's started just fine all winter, regardless of how insanely cold it got (Erie, PA cold). Today, it was suddenly in the 80's. I had to turn over the engine for about 20 seconds before it finally sputtered to a start, and then it ran normally.

So the battery's just fine, lots of power there - the engine just doesn't want to get going.

Cheap recommendations would be best - I've yet to land a truly stable job, and I'm facing impending semi-doom from student loan payments later this year.

 

[Bignate603]

I'd still check the battery first. I've had them die from heat but then again I live in Phoenix. It's a simple check you can get for free at most auto parts stores.

 

[Jeff7]

It had better not be bad, it's only about a year or two old.

It was able to turn over the engine the full 20+ seconds without sounding like it was slowing down.


What do they do when they check it? Do they just test the voltage, or what?

 

[Bignate603]

Originally posted by: Jeff7
It had better not be bad, it's only about a year or two old.

It was able to turn over the engine the full 20+ seconds without sounding like it was slowing down.


What do they do when they check it? Do they just test the voltage, or what?

Pretty much. They can check your alternator at the same time to see if it is putting enough voltage to charge the battery. Should take 5 minutes.

Another question, if you start the car and turn it off does it start easily the next time?

 

[F1N3ST]

Hit your starter with a hammer if it fails to start, it really works, trust me, and it may sound like im trying to be funny, but im serious.

This is more of a temporary fix as opposed to getting a new starter.

 

[Bignate603]

Originally posted by: F1N3ST
Hit your starter with a hammer if it fails to start, it really works, trust me, and it may sound like im trying to be funny, but im serious.

This is more of a temporary fix as opposed to getting a new starter.

If it's turning over the hammer trick won't really do anything.

 

[Jugernot]

Check your plugs

 

[nakedfrog]

Maybe condensation? I'd see how it acts tomorrow. Or even later today.

 

[Jeff7]

Oops, just remembered that I even had this thread open.

The car seems to have acclimated itself to the warmer weather, and it hasn't been acting up again like that.

Originally posted by: Bignate603
Pretty much. They can check your alternator at the same time to see if it is putting enough voltage to charge the battery. Should take 5 minutes.

Another question, if you start the car and turn it off does it start easily the next time?

Which scenario do you mean?

- Start car
- Turn off car after a very brief runtime
- Wait several hours
- Start car again
- Test is done to check the battery's capacity.


- Start car
- Turn off car after a very brief runtime
- Start car again immediately
- Test is done to check....????


I'll check it sometime with a voltmeter.

I've also got a pretty nice battery charger/conditioner - maybe this Sunday I'll hook up the charger to it and give it some electrical TLC.

 

[Bignate603]

Originally posted by: Jeff7
Oops, just remembered that I even had this thread open.

The car seems to have acclimated itself to the warmer weather, and it hasn't been acting up again like that.

Originally posted by: Bignate603
Pretty much. They can check your alternator at the same time to see if it is putting enough voltage to charge the battery. Should take 5 minutes.

Another question, if you start the car and turn it off does it start easily the next time?

Which scenario do you mean?

- Start car
- Turn off car after a very brief runtime
- Wait several hours
- Start car again
- Test is done to check the battery's capacity.


- Start car
- Turn off car after a very brief runtime
- Start car again immediately
- Test is done to check....????


I'll check it sometime with a voltmeter.

I've also got a pretty nice battery charger/conditioner - maybe this Sunday I'll hook up the charger to it and give it some electrical TLC.

I meant that one. Start the car, turn off the car and try and start it immediately again. I'm wondering if you've got a problem with your fuel pump or a plugged filter where its taking time to build up pressure and get gas up through the lines to the engine. If you restart it immediately you won't have to wait for fuel to get pumped all the way up the line and if its a fuel problem it should restart more easily. If it restarts very easily I'd go and replace the filter because by 100k you should do that anyways. It may solve your problem. Filters are usually cheap but accessing them ranges from a 5 minute job to doing major dismantling on the fuel system).

 

[Jeff7]

I suppose it probably could use a new filter anyway, as you say.
And the problem seems to have gone away on its own. Weird. - which of course makes testing a bit more difficult. Transient problems, yay!


I also tested the battery voltage with a DMM - with the battery disconnected. 12.66V.

I charged it then at 1.5A for about 2hrs, then at 0.5A for....awhile longer. This charger is the Triton charger by Electrifly. (This is the Triton2) As the battery approaches full charge, the voltage also starts increasing. It made it up to about 14.33V before I brought the charger in for the night.

So I was at least able to gently push a few more amps into the battery.