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Hi,
Lately, my car will not start on the first try in the morning. I turn the keys for a few seconds (2-4 seconds), if it does not start, I turn back the key and try again, the car starts. Any ideas if this is a battery change or a serious problem?

6 months back I took the car for a oil change @ Midas and the tech told me that the battery needs replacement and so does the brakes. Since brakes meant safety, I immediately took it to a different shop to replace the brakes (did not feel like taking Midas brakes). The person there was a bit surprised that I went in for a brake change when I told that the brakes were not making any grinding sounds (but I went ahead with the replacement anyways, as it was about 9 years since I bought the car -- low use).

Given that experience, I did not think too much about my battery change (everything radio, lights worked perfectly), but I started to get a nagging doubt every since that I need to replace the batteries. Since then I had been on 7 day vacation for the car (i.e no use) and the car sprung up nicely, and the latest oil change with Firestone, the tech did not complain about battery charge (although he complain about air filter replacement).

But a little since then my car does not start at the first instance, it almost always takes two tries (I do not try cranking for more than a couple of seconds). Any suggestions if it is the battery, or is it something worse.

I also have the key icon flashing (I tried the seldom used spare key too, so the problem is likely not at the key end).

I hate to admit it, but I not too mechanically inclined. Just want to get a good idea of what might be wrong, so I can plan accordingly.