Bad starter?

[FirebirdHatesRice]

I did a search and couldn't really find anything that seemed alot like my problem, so maybe some of you guys have had a similar problem and can help me out.

Today, when I got in my car and tried to start it, I went to crank it and it acted as if the battery was dead...it started to crank and then just died. Then I tried again and I had to give it a little gas when I was starting it...engine started but idle was really choppy and erradic. Finally, I just started driving and the problem went away. However, whenever I turn the engine off and go to start it again I have this problem. It seems like something starter/alternator related...but I really can't tie in the trouble starting/initial screwed up idle to any of the problems.

Thanks in advance,
Brent

[hockeyman]

If the engine cranks/turns when you turn the key, the starter is fine. Sounds like another problem somewhere else. Maybe the alternator, fuel injectors, fouled plug, clogged air filter, etc.

[FirebirdHatesRice]

It seems kind of odd to me, this problem just came up today after it had been raining pretty bad overnight...is it possible something got wet? I had a similar thing happen to me once when I was flushing my coolant. If it might help out, I could get my digital vid camera out there and show exactly what its doing.

As for some of the things you mentioned, the air filters were cleaned about 250 miles ago and I ran some lucas fuel injector cleaner at my last oil change, which was about 2 weeks ago.

[FirebirdHatesRice]

Same problem keeps happening, I'm going to try and get it over to AutoZone and have the battery and alternator tested. Something tells me my battery might be going bad. All that keeps happening is my car has trouble starting, then it just struggles to idle until you rev it a few times, then its perfectly fine.