'03 Cavalier starting problems

Take your car to Autozone or Pep Boys or Advance Auto or most any national chain auto store. They can hook up an analyzer to test your battery and alternator output, and it's free.

Yeah, I am going to do that this afternoon when I get off of work. I just figured I'd post and ask to see if anyone else has had this problem or experience with my situation. My guess is it's just the battery and the reason its reving up when I turn it on now is because it's over compensating with power to get the car on. Knowing my car it's probably something far less simple and way more expensive! Thanks!

Do the RPMs stay high or is it a surge? If they stay high, odds are you have a vacuum leak somewhere.

If it's the original battery, your overdue for a replacement anyway. But, by all means, have it checked out.

Most likely it is the battery. The battery has already exceeded normal battery life. Todays vehicles are designed to operate within a specific voltage range if the battery voltage is outside of that range it can cause irregularities with the electronic engine controls.

In the last year the only part that has not been recommended for changing on Cavaliers, is the floor mats. Before you go, clean and tighten your battery cables. Five years on a battery is a long time. But it is still the right thing to get it checked by a qualified person. If you don't like the answer you get, go somewhere else.