"crustybutthole" <crusty@butt.hole> wrote in message
news:3237d3pfqqfar4fnirue5grj6ot97d5qlf@4ax.com...
>I went on vacation 2 weeks ago, and while I was gone my 2004 Accord LX
> V6 with 55,000 miles sat in the driveway. I got back on a Monday, and
> didn't try starting the car until I went to work on Tuesday morning.
> The car cranked slowly, as if the battery were low, and took a few
> tries before it started. Ran fine once it started. I figured that
> maybe the battery had discharged a bit while sitting for a week,
> although that seems like too short a period of time to really make a
> difference.
>
> On Thursday, there was a very bad storm here in the midwest with a
> threat of hail. While at work, I pulled my car into a covered
> warehouse area to avoid any damage in case it did hail. When I went to
> leave, I turned the key and got the "clicking" noise you get when the
> battery isn't supplying enough power to the starter. Tried the key a
> second time and the car turned right over and ran fine. Made a mental
> note to have this checked out.
>
> Very busy on Friday.
>
> On Saturday, I had 3 episodes where I went to start the car and either
> got the clicking noise again, or else no response at all, as in a dead
> battery. Each time, the car started fine on the second or third try
> and ran fine once it started. I wanted to take it in to my mechanic,
> but the storm had knocked out the power and he was closed for 3 days.
>
> On Sunday, I removed the battery from the car, cleaned the terminals
> and connectors, checked the ground wire, and put the battery on a
> charger all day. When I first connected the charger, the meter in the
> charger read 4 amps. After a couple hours, it went to 2 amps, but
> would go no lower after 8 hours of charging. At this point I'm
> thinking it's time for a new battery. Original battery is in the car
> and is 3 years old.
>
> Later on Sunday, I was filing away some papers and came across a
> reciept for service (power seat wire harness recall & oil change) that
> I had done at the dealer on June 4. On the reciept was printed the
> results of the electrical test they routinely do on all cars brought
> in for service, and it noted that the battery base voltage and
> cold-cranking amperage were within factory specifications (425
> IPS???).
>
> Sunday evening and all day Monday the car has started and run just
> fine.
>
> And I forgot to mention, my model Accord does not have an electrical
> gauge in the dashboard, and the red warning light has never come on.
> Assuming that it is functioning properly, that would rule out an
> alternator problem - correct?
>
> Does anybody have any thoughts on this starting problem? I certainly
> have no objections to replacing the battery, but the dealers test
> showed OK just 2 months ago. Is there something else I should be
> looking into? Thanks for taking the time to read and for any advice
> you can offer.
>
> G
>

Take it to Autozone or Advance Auto Parts. They will check your charging
system and battery for free.