If I re-arrange your post, it all makes sense:
Originally Posted by
RAM_Designs
Turns out that after a new battery, everything seemed to be ok....seemed to be. Well, today(~3 days after new batt) after going to AutoZone for an oil filter, the car wouldn't turn over. I noticed that sometimes when trying to turn over it would kinda start to, and the lights on the dash would go away for a split second, then come back on as the car tried to turn over some more.
Bad Battery (oh, no, you changed it. Ok: Bad battery connection, bad battery cable-to-starter or ground connection.
But this:
It was trying to this time, just chugging along until I stopped it.
No idea what that means.
The next try, started right up...but the check engine light was now on.
When the light comes on, the FIRST thing you do is read it with you $80 Ultragauge!
or... you go to AutoZone and have them read it.
THEN, you come here and get help!
After doing the oil change and changing the air filter, it took about 10 tries to start the thing. Each time it would be trying to turn over, unlike a couple of weeks ago when it was just making a loud ticking sound. Then for seemingly no reason it started right up and rode just fine all the way home...check engine light is still on though.
I suppose you could have a bad connection somewhere in the PTCM or RCM, but I still go back to the basic battery cable issue.