This one has been confusing me a little. When I don't start my car for a few days and I turn it on, I have to sit on the starter for a long time before it turns over. I do have a little short in the car somewhere, and it has a light drain, but I try to turn it over with still about 12 volts in the battery. I hear the fuel pump prime when I turn the key to on, but it sometimes takes a long time to start, and this last time I actually had to use an engine starter on a charger to get it to turn. Is it just a case of a weak, even though brand new diehard, battery, or is it something else? Is it possible this is related to the timing question I have posted here as well? Thanks.

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87 GTA 350 L98
K&N filter, beefed up TH-700r4, Accel Manifold, Ported Plenum and Runners, Fuel Press. Regulator 49.5psi, air foil, modified MAF, SLP cold air box, Hypertech Thermomaster chip w/160 thermostat, MSD 6AL and Blaster 3, B&M shift kit & megashifter, Moser Ford 9in Rear with Richmond 3.50 and locker, Edlebrock TES headers and Cat Back,Gutted cat, removed emissions, Hotchkis setup in rear, Poly suspension and Koni in the front, relocated MAT, bypassed TB coolant, 300 lbs lighter

Fastest ET's
Stock-0-60 6.8, 1/4 15.0 @ 94
Best-0-60 4.7, 1/4 12.8 @ 112
Norm-0-60 5.2, 1/4 13.2 @ 108

 

I've noticed that engines are harder to start when they've been sitting for a few days. It's probably similar to what cold temperatures do to the battery. Having an electrical drain doesn't help matters either. Make it a point to start her up every day and let her get to operating temp.

Driving short distances (when you do take the car out) will also contribute to the problem. The battery doesn't have enough time to fully charge. Believe it or not shorter drives are more problematic than long drives.