Whyvsper

iTrader: (1)

I'm having a little trouble keeping the starting of my car reliable. (1997 Chevy Camaro)

Most of the time it starts up just fine, but occasionally the motor will turn over once or twice, then the battery will somehow die and come back to life. The radio gets disconnected from it somehow and all the preset stations get reset. Then when I'm driving, the battery will go from being fine to almost dead then back to fine again.

Everytime the battery dies jumping the car starts it right up, but I don't want to have to tap into the battery of another car just to start it. If the car has been started once that day, the rest of the day it starts fine.

So do I need to get a completely new battery or is there some random problem that drains the battery significantly more than it should?

Undertow74

iTrader: (45)

#1 i would load test the battery or have someone else load test it for you. If that checks out ok(which i doubt it will) go to step
#2 test the alternator output if that is good
#3 check all your wires/grounds......

thats just the basic first 3 things i would check then go from there

Undertow74

iTrader: (45)

you might have a draw coming from somewhere that is draining your battery also. but i would check those first few things, and then if its still a problem i would test for a draw and start pulling fuses

wssix99

iTrader: (5)

+1 It's probably the alternator or battery or both. Any local parts store will have special testers for both parts.

Mels SS

iTrader: (1)

Sound like he has a ground issue to me.