I don't know much about cars so please bare with me and try to help if you can. I have a 1999 volkswagen diesel TDI. If the vehicle gets even remotely cold it simply wont start. I've had it plugged in for the past 2 days and the temp isn't very cold. It's floating around -4 (Celsius) which is 24 (Fahrenheit).

We connected it to a battery charger because we thought I might have left an interior light on or something and the charger said that the battery was 100% charged. It still wouldn't start. So we push started it and it started right up, drove it for the rest of that day and then, ofcourse the next day it wouldn't start again. What happens is I warm up the plugs a few times, and then when I try to start it up it turns over VERY slowly, the interior dashboard lights fade in and out as it tries to crank it over.

I'm not a rich man and I can't afford to buy a new battery and buy a new starter. The battery that's in it reads 610 cold cranking amps so it should be more than enough to start a car when it's only -4 outside, 610 CCA is good enough to -40.

Based on what I've described is it more than likely a very old battery that just doesn't have the juice anymore or does it sound like it's a starter issue? Please please help I bought this vehicle last March so I have no idea about the age of the battery.

 

You local parts place can test the battery for you and the starter