I have a 1997 Honda CRV with about 71K miles on it. Within the past
two weeks, it is suddenly having trouble starting. I will turn the
key and hear the engine trying to turn over, but it takes at least 10
seconds for it to catch. The thing is that it does not happen every
day or even every time I start the car. Sometimes I will go a couple
of days without there being no problem, and then it will suddenly
reappear. The weather has turned cooler in the past two weeks, but I
have had no trouble starting the car in weather that is way colder
that what I am in right now. I have also never missed a servicing on
the car.

I have experienced similar problems with other vehicles in the past, and
it was almost always one bad cell in the battery. Have your battery checked,
or you can do it yourself if you have a multimeter. With no load, you should
see approx. 14 volts. If it is 12 volts or less, your battery has "lost"
a cell and should be replaced. If this is not the problem, try cranking
the engine with the meter attached and observe the voltage - if it drops
to less than 12 volts, you may have a problem with your starter, although
I don't think this is the case from what you describe. Other than that,
I would start looking for loose or corroding battery cables or other wiring
problems. If not electrical, the problem may be fuel delivery system. Good
luck.