Charging Problem and difficult to start?

[Nachius]

Over the past couple months I've had problems with my Car being hard to start, It will crank and crank and crank then finally start.........If its warm after starting the first time it does not do this...........Well a few days ago I went in the garage to give it its weekly start for the winter and it finally started, so I went inside.

Come back out and see a light on through the window (well other than the SES :D ) its the check guages light and the battery isn't charging! I had to however jump the battery a few weeks ago to get it to start but I left it charging over night and it started ok the next day!

I read up a bit on it last night through searches and it seems that the alt could possibly cause the starting problem. Just wondered if this sounds about right for the problem if it ever warms up a bit I'm going to put a meter on it and see what the alternator is putting out and test the battery to solve that problem but what does everyone think about the Hard start?

Just a little more info The hard starts began after I had my exhaust installed RKSport Headers, 3" catco, 3" Flowmaster catback..........could an exhaust leak cause a major starting issue or is it just coincidence it started at the same time?

[southern94]

def sounds like a alt. go to a local autozone they will test it for free. i had to replace mine they checked it and i replaced it in the parking lot they are pricy if you don't give em your old one if you give em your old one they are around $90

[Nachius]

Well I have another alt sittin in my garage at my apartment attached to another engine I have, but my car is at my dads garage. I will swap them when it gets warmer I just wasn't sure if a slowly failing alternator would cause the starting issues I'm having!