2000 Q45 Won't Start (I think its a Starter Problem)

[IceCubeFoSho]

I haven't posted here in ages since I let my mom have the Q45 as I've got an 06' Xterra now.

In any case, I've come back because there seems to be a problem with the Q now.

The car's battery has power and I ran the radio, A/C, lights on and everything for a good few minutes while checking speeds of windshields going up and down to make sure the battery actually has power, and it does.

Then when I try to start up the engine, I either hear the clicking or later on, I'll hear the cranking going slow slow slow slow medium medium slow slow medium medium faster faster medium faster faster faster Vrooom engine starts. Keep in mind, this only occured once out of the 4 times I've tried starting it, and its pretty much not starting anymore.

IF I put the jumper cables on, the car starts like its nobody's business, but when I take them off, it cranks so slowly which leads me to believe its a starter problem. You can also drive with the car fine once jump started, but once you turn it off, it refuses to turn on, or it cranks for a very long time and finally starts.

Am I correct in thinking its the starter?

Its also got about 113K miles, maybe more, if I remember correctly.

Any ideas/tests I can do further to make sure its not something else?

Thanks in advance.

[Q45tech]

The alternator is not designed to recharge a discharged battery. Replace the battery with a brank new one [as you should do every 3-4 years] anyway.

[loystock]

Based on the symptoms provided, you have a weak battery or poor connections. Make sure the battery connections are clean and tight. A good battery should read >12.5VDC with engine off. With the engine running, the alternator charging voltage should be >13.8 VDC (spec is 14.1-14.7 VDC).

[IceCubeFoSho]

Thanks guys,

It was the battery, damn Duralast Gold only lasted about a year, and mysteriously, my purchase was never recorded into Autozone's system... Ended up buying a new cheaper Duralast.

Either way, it works now, thanks again.

[NightRiderQ45]

Duralast are horrible. You should've purchased your battery from Wal-Mart. I purchased the top of the line Everlast battery with the highest cca for around $75 in 5/09

[bullittandy]

This problem is a good example of occam's razor-it's always the simpler problem.