Trouble starting car in morning

[Leo99]

My 2004 Rav4 with 300k miles just started to give some difficulty starting in the morning. It is sluggish to turn over and doesn't do the start up rev-rev-rev with the same gusto in the morning. Any time during the day after the first start, it starts up just fine.

I started it yesterday morning and then immediately pulled the battery and took it Autozone where it checked out good. Then I put the battery back in and drove it to AutoZone where they checked it while the engine was running and they said the alternator was good. No problems.

The starter is about 2-3 years old; had to replace the original one.
Battery is about 1.5 year old. No corrosion, looks real clean.
Alternator is original.

I suspect the battery but the headlights lights stay good and bright when starting the car with just a momentary blink when the starter kicks in. If it was the alternator, I'd suspect it to get worse as it's driven or after the first start, but it seems to get stronger and only gets weak after it sits overnight.

Been like this for about a week and slowly getting worse.

The fuel filter is on the gas tank so it's a project to change that and beyond my ability.

Any ideas? Should I just get a new battery and see if that fixes it?

 

[javacontour]

Do you have a parasitic load draining the battery?

You might try removing the negative battery cable at night and reconnecting it prior to your first start to see if you get a different result for the first start.

I think you said there was no corrosion, just in case, clean up all cables and battery terminals first. Check both ends of the positive going to the starter and both ends of the ground.

If it's not any of the above, it does sound like the battery may be marginal.

 

[Brybo86]

Can you leave the battery on an automatic charger overnight? If it starts great after that then you know the battery is losing its gusto. Hopefully it is one with a 2 year free replacement.

 

[901Memphis]

Definitely agree with charging the battery which it sounds like it is the issue

 

[Rand]

Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
Definitely agree with charging the battery which it sounds like it is the issue


and can also rule out the battery as well

 

[Leo99]

Originally Posted By: Brybo86
Can you leave the battery on an automatic charger overnight? If it starts great after that then you know the battery is losing its gusto. Hopefully it is one with a 2 year free replacement.


Good idea. I have a charger but not the kind you can leave overnight and not overcharge the battery.

 

[901Memphis]

Originally Posted By: Leo99
Originally Posted By: Brybo86
Can you leave the battery on an automatic charger overnight? If it starts great after that then you know the battery is losing its gusto. Hopefully it is one with a 2 year free replacement.


Good idea. I have a charger but not the kind you can leave overnight and not overcharge the battery.



You can still get it full with a manual charger

 

[Leo99]

Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
Originally Posted By: Leo99
Originally Posted By: Brybo86
Can you leave the battery on an automatic charger overnight? If it starts great after that then you know the battery is losing its gusto. Hopefully it is one with a 2 year free replacement.


Good idea. I have a charger but not the kind you can leave overnight and not overcharge the battery.



You can still get it full with a manual charger


Do I charge it connected to the car or disconnect the car cables?

 

[Turbo_Lemming]

Originally Posted By: Leo99
Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
Originally Posted By: Leo99
Originally Posted By: Brybo86
Can you leave the battery on an automatic charger overnight? If it starts great after that then you know the battery is losing its gusto. Hopefully it is one with a 2 year free replacement.


Good idea. I have a charger but not the kind you can leave overnight and not overcharge the battery.



You can still get it full with a manual charger


Do I charge it connected to the car or disconnect the car cables?


Leo99, I've never had an issue with charging a battery while it is still in and connected to the car

 

[HemiHawk]

With my Jeep there is a check valve for the fuel line in the pump itself, also located in the tank. The way to test if its that, is turn the key to the "on position" but dont start the car, then turn it back off. Then, turn to "on position" again, but again dont start. wait like 5-10 seconds, then try to start. This primes the fuel line if the fuel is leaking back. I know this is an issue with some of the older Jeeps.

 

[Donald]

Charge up the battery and then test it on a true carbon pile load tester at 1/2 the CCA for 15 seconds. Then read temp compensated voltage.

 

[901Memphis]

I prefer to charge outside the vehicle but most vehicles are safe to charge connected.

 

[GiveMeAVowel]

Originally Posted By: Leo99
My 2004 Rav4 with 300k miles just started to give some difficulty starting in the morning.
Any ideas? Should I just get a new battery and see if that fixes it?


Yes.

 

[Leo99]

Originally Posted By: Donald
Charge up the battery and then test it on a true carbon pile load tester at 1/2 the CCA for 15 seconds. Then read temp compensated voltage.


I don't have one of those.

 

[4wheeldog]

If you want to check the battery for actual performance, check the voltage while it is actually cranking the engine. If it drops below 11 volts, replace the battery.....In spite of AutoZone's expert opinion.

 

[Nick1994]

Probably a bad connection or it needs another starter.

 

[RedOakRanch]

I had the same deal, hard start, autozome test and battery tested perfect. Took it to a real shop Monday AM and it was the battery. It failed internally, volts were fine but amps were way low. No more Sunday Autozone diagnostics for me.

 

[SilverC6]

Replace the battery.

 

[SatinSilver]

Drive it around without the radio or ventilation system on for awhile.

 

[badtlc]

start with the battery. I had a 6 month old battery do this exact thing to me over winter. Over a week it went from starting fine each morning in the garage to barely turning over by day 5 or 6. The only difference with mine is AAP's battery tester did show mine as going bad.