For the past 2 months or so, whenever I have left my car sitting for a while (usually it's when I leave work) the car seems to have a lot of trouble starting. Occasionally, it's so bad that, when the engine does turn over, it idles very rough and the tach hovers at about 250 rpm for 3-4 seconds before it finally jumps up above 1,000 (usually, it will briefly jump all the way up to 1,500 before settling down to 1,100 or 1,200).

The strange thing is that this happens only at the end or middle of the day.. and only if it's been sitting for a while (at least 4 hours). In the morning, the car will be fine... maybe a tad slow, but not to the severity that exists at the end of the day. And, if I go out for lunch in the middle of the day, the car may exhibit the problem the first time I start it but then will be fine when I head back to work.

I've taken it in for service twice and both times the same guy looked at it, we talked about the problem a lot, he talked to several other techs and they all reached the same conclusion. "Beats me." Oh, and they kept claiming that they couldn't replicate the problem even though I specifically told them it needed to sit still for at least 4 hours, maybe more. They never allowed it to sit that long. Big surprise.

The other potential clue to this is that outside temperature may have something to do with it... it's usually worse as it gets warmer.. and that would also explain why it is not so much an issue in the morning... could it be condensation? And if so, where? The guy at the dealership swears that the battery and alternator checked out fine on both visits...

Any ideas?

 

maybe you have something that is draining it?
Stereo perhaps?
other than that you are under warranty take it into the dealership

 

I wonder if I could get Sears or someone to put a battery into it. If it ends up solving the problem, could I make a claim to AoA to get reimbursed?

 

you probably can... but i would take it to another dealership.

 

Yesterday I changed the battery and the car starts much faster and easier and it could just be in my head but it seems to run allot smoother as well. I would try swapping out the battery with one you know is good like you said. In fact have the dealer try another one for you.
HTH

 

there is no problem to be solve, therefore, no need for a battery.