So I guess it's the season for stressed batteries (been seeing a few threads here lately). I'm having a strange problem with how my car runs sometimes immediately after a jumpstart.
I'm been making some audio-related tweaks to the car, and the process sometimes drains the battery (lights on, amp on, radio on etc while car is off) while I've been working. That's pretty much just my doing. It might not be the greatest for the battery, but the battery is cheap and on the older side, so I'm planning on replacing it with a better one soon anyways.
My issue is when I jumpstart the car, I sometimes have issues. I use a 300A jump box connected to the terminals under the hood, and pretty much only use it fully charged. I've used this jumper for a while and it's never given me any issues, usually jump starting the car easily.
Here's what's been happening: when I crank the engine, it turns over somewhat reluctantly, but still definitely fast enough to start it. It might take 5 seconds or so of cranking, which is unusual. Okay. But when it does finally start, the engine runs EXTREMELY poorly, like it has multiple misfires. The traction light also comes on, and all the electronics dim horribly with the engine as it labors tremendously to turn over. Removing the jumpbox at this point makes it even worse.
I always turn it off almost immediately, recharge the jumpbox and try to start it again later. It might repeat the same behavior, or the engine will instead turn over easily, and it will start and run fine, with no warning lights.
My first inclination would be the alternator. But the alternator is an new Bosch installed only a few months back and it seems to have no problems. I've already replaced the grounding straps too. Again the battery isn't terribly new, but my mechanic maintains that it will have no bearing on how the car runs once it's started.
Any ideas? EDIT: I remember someone else mentioning something like this happening, but can't find the thread.
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