Ok the ZHP sits a lot, and last time it got driven was about 1.5 weeks and then the temp dropped, sometimes freezing or below, like last night - car sits outside. Battery is OEM factory.
Today when I started it after sitting for about 1.5 wks, the car started rough, shook, and there was some type of knocking sound with the shaking, as if it idled really slow or something...then the RPMs jumped up and down a bit and then started to drop and then the SES and EML lights came on, and I turned car off - all this was in about 25 sec's or so.
I started it immediately back on, and it started fine, and idled fine, and no SES or EML lamps or any other warnings....
Drove it a bit back and forth - drove like normal, AFA I could tell - normal sounds, normal power, and I shut the car off and on several times during the day while driving, no waring lights, CEL, etc.
Thinking it was the battery perhaps, i went to AAP and had them check the battery (hence my panicky battery thread - i figured it out how to get the cover off - thanks)
- the tech said the battery (OEM white) didn't test good or bad, but 'NEEDS CHARGING' came up on the display of his tester...I didn't charge it - just drove a bit more after that.
They couldn't check codes as they can only do it if the CEL is ON, the tech said...
I didn't get a new battery, as it's still ok...SHOULD I HAVE? I have a $20 off coupon at AAP, and they had the Autocraft Gold 94R in stock...somrtimes it does crank a bit too much before starting, and remote key function have been getting worse...like i have to get really close to open doors, etc...
I don't think the rough starting/idling thing was battery, what do you guys think? if it was the battery, why would the car start at all? and why would the CEL light come on? Bad battery can't trigger a rough idling/knocking and make the SES light come on, right?
On the other hand, if something IS mechanically wrong with the engine, how come it started and drove fine a second later and no CEL any more?
what should I do? a Bit scared right now and bummed...