car won't start

[roland_moreno@domain.elided]

Our 85 Graduate will not start.  Yesterday, with sunny skies and temps in
the 60's here in Wisconsin, I decided to take the Spider.  It was last
driven about 3 weeks prior without problems.  I turned the key, the battery
dummy light went dim and I was convinced the battery was dead.  I hooked
the battery up to the battery charger on automatic setting of 2amps for the
daytime before going to work, then to 10amps for about 2 hours when I got
home.  Gauge on charger showed a full charge.  It stumbled a little, but
started.  I backed it into the driveway and left it idling (idleing?) for
about 20 minutes to give the baby a bath (not the spider, a real baby),
turned the car off to tend to a few things and when I tried to start the
car about 10 minutes later, it wouldn't turn over.  The battery light burns
brightly and I hear a whirring sound in the rear (fuel pump?) and I think I
heard a few click----click,clicks from the front when I turned the key.  I
was able to get the car going by letting it coast down the driveway in gear
and easing out the clutch.  It revved and idled just fine and I was able to
drive into the garage again.

It seems that the ignition and fuel systems are doing well.  Could this
just be the starter  (unknown age) or a poor battery (about 5-6 years old).
How can I test the starter?   What size battery does the car take?

Thanks!

Roy
85 Alfa Romeo garage decoration

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