My car won't start. Any opinions on what can be wrong?
 

I haven't had a chance to start my car in the last couple of weeks and it has been really cold out as you all know. Anyway, I tried starting it about a week and a half ago and it had trouble starting at first, and made this clicking noise when I tried starting it, but it eventually turned over and started and I let it run for about 20 mins. Then when I turned it off and back on again, it had no problems turning over.

Then today, I tried starting it and now it won't turn over at all and it is making that clicking noise and the ASR light and service engine soon light stay lit on the dashboard. I don't believe it to be anything too serious since I had this problem a little while ago as I mentioned, but what could be the problem? Frozen fuel line? Battery dead?

Also, is that normal that when I start it, and it does turn over, it makes a little bit of an accelerating sound and drones a few times, and then the rpm needle drops down after about a minute after starting the engine? I mean I chalk the problem up to not starting it frequently in winter. I haven't really had any time up until recently to try to start or drive it because of studying for school. I appreciate the help.

Battery, you should start it about once a week and let it run for a little while. Btw, this doesn't belong in the lounge, it should go in general tech.

check battery cable connections, they could be loose or corrision on them. Check and see how old your battery is. Most times theres a date of manf on it.

Sorry about putting this post here. I have become so accustomed to posting in the lounge area. Thanks for the info. I thought it was the battery. I am guessing I just need a charge since the battery is only about a year and a half old.

Battery, like everyone else said.

oh, and its normal for the car to go into high idle at first startup. What RPM does it stay at before it drops down

I wanna say it stays at around 3500-4000 rpms for a few seconds before it drops down to like 1500-2000.

Yeah, now that I am done with school for a while, I think I may start driving it to work maybe once a week to get it out of the garage more. Its a 98 and I only have 46K miles on it. I have kept it in pristine shape. I don't even think anything has rusted. For already being about 11 years old, I'd say the wires and most everything has kept well. My stock battery from 98 only died in Feb of 08. I am guessing that it had a long life for a stock battery.

That sounds VERY VERY high.

On second thought, I'd say more around 2800-3500 before it drops down. That was too high. Still, it does that for abour 30 seconds or less and then it drops back down to its normal RPM.

sounds like you may have a separate problem. The RPMs shouldn't go that high at all. On initial start up it should kick up to a little over 2 the most, and that's only for a second. Normal cold idle should be in the neighborhood of 1200RPM.

I don't know what to say, it has been doing that for a few years now, but the car always runs fine. It only happens after the initial startup when its been really cold out. But when I haven't started my car in a little while during summer, I never have that problem.

I got AAA to charge my battery and it started up fine without the rpms rising. I just chalk it up to the car sitting and it being really cold out. Otherwise it runs fine and always passes inspection.