Ok... so just recently my car started having a problem when starting cold. It started and gradually got worse, and in a few days was not able to start when cold. I thought the battery was going and just not holding enough of a charge to start it, I was getting it jumped from friends and when hooked up to jumper cables it fired right up....so I needed a new battery right?

Bought a brand new battery, installed, no fix

So now.... when cold it takes a loooooooong time to start, I have to hold down the starter a long time for like 3-4 cranks and then it barely fires up.

If I drive and it warmed up and then I park it for a very short while, it will start right back up almost normal, but if left for 30 min. and longer it gets real hard to start again.

So, what gives? Is this something easy that someone can see right away? Any ideas or help would really be appreciated

 

It's hard to determine from what you wrote, if you have a "cranking" issue or a "starting" issue. Assuming you have a cranking issue then the problem is either a bad starter or bad connections. The way to determine that is jump directly from the battery to the starter, bypassing the wiring. If it cranks easier, (quicker) then the issue is wiring. If it still rotates slowly after bypassing, then the starter is shot.

If on the other hand, you have a starting issue, try this the next time you go to start the engine. Turn the key on but don't crank the engine. KOEO. do this for 2 seconds and then turn the key off. Now KOEO for 2 seconds again. Do this cycling 5 times before attempting to start the engine. If it starts much quicker after the KOEO cycling, the problem is fuel drainback away from the engine and that is usually do to a bad check ball in the fuel pump. However, you should check the vac line on the Fuel Pressure Regulator to see if it is wet.

 

slopo's the man, Keep us updated as to what you find, I am fighting a cold/moisture from humidity and rain start up problem myself. Im thinking carbon tracking, but that doesn't explain the cold temp start up hassle I have. At least to my knowledge it shouldn't. So update as you go along and figure out whats going on.

 

I had the same problem, the start up slowly got worse and worse. So we took a meter to the battery, starter and cables to the starter and found out the voltage is dieing right as it gets to the starter and the wires just suck. Try looking under the car at the wires that go to the starter, they could be worn from dirt and what not.