crustybutthole

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