Just in the last week I noticed that when I was turning the ignition key on for the first time I could hear a slight noise (like power was being applied) but the engine wasn't turning over. If I then turned the key back and then forward again the engine would turn over and start.

Last night it took several turnings backwards and forwards before the engine cranked. When the starter motor fires up it sounds fairly healthy (not overly weak).

Any ideas what would be causing??

Thanks

 

S or non s r52?
Year, miles and how frequently is it driven?
Check the battery yet?

 

2007, S, 66K Miles, Driven daily. Have not checked battery yet - don't have the equipment - I can go get it checked though

 

The free battery check/alternator checks at the bigbox suto stores are not perfect, but if either are very weak, it might catch it...
while a cold battery may have a hard time starting a cold car, heat (and in most areas we are getting the first few warm says of the year) is actually a worse issue for batteries...while less power is needed to crank the car, the heat tends to kill them...
One other bit of info on electric motors...
To start them moving they need MORE power to start the motion, than is needed to continue the cranking...