toyo

So this morning my fiance calls me and says her car won't start. Just a click. If she pushes in the gas, it starts clicking faster and sounds like it wants to start turning over. Battery's not dead.

Is it just cuz it's too darn cold out or what?!

Some cars can be plugged in over night to keep the engine a little warm for when you go out in the morning to leave for work. But what if you live in the city in say, a townhouse, and the parking lot is too far away. That's not really an option.
Are there any little tricks you guys know of or can think of to perhaps ensure that one can get to work in the morning despite -14,000 degrees celcius temperatures?

Thanks for the info guys!

imported_Cablerat

That clicking sound means there's not enough battery charge to get the starter going.. It's definitely trying but not enough.. If you boosted the car it would start no prob.

The only thing you can do is get a block heater and battery blanket, but both those have to be plugged in.

Aside from that, you just need a good battery and try not to let your gas go to low.

imported_cet_civic

go out before you go to bed and start it up and let it warm up..then shut her down for the night...it'll be a little easier to start cause it would have sat since you got home till the next day...like 10hrs or whatever.

The Prophet

ya it would be ideal to have a block heater and battery blanket but if you dont have anywhere to plug it in then thats not really an option... do what adam said and warm that baby up right before you head to bed... it might help a but... other than that, a new battery might be an idea in the future...

toyo

Cool.

Ya I wondered if perhaps it should just be started for a couple minutes before bed. Let it warm up a bit. My hands and runny nose were hoping there might be an easier solution.

Thanks for the tips boys...

nathan

Mirai Trunks

Maybe get one of those battery jumpers from Crappy Tire? That way no one has to bother going out in the night to start it.

spazio10

you know what dude. even if you start it before you go to bed it prolly still wont start. unless you sleep very little every night, your car is still gonna sit for about 8 hours. even with a fully heated engine, 8 hours of sitting in the cold will bring that block way down in temp. even with a battery jumper the car is still trying to crank really thick oil so the best way is to go with the block heater and maybe a couple extension cords.

The Prophet

no starting it at night wont solve your problem, but it might help a bit... it will have less time to try and drop in temp. but you may still get cold starts in the morning....

imported_kane2k

A piece of metal left for 8 hours will be the same temperature as it's surroundings. Spend your time sleeping instead of warming up your car before going to bed.

imported_GoldBadge

How old is the battery? What type of car is it?

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

build a fire pit under it hahaha really, that's what they do with big rigs that run diesel, so the diesel doesn't gel (freeze).


that's what they do in Siberia and other arctic climates. Also, they never turn their trucks off.

imported_viper_2_4

what is the reason for not wanting your gas to go to low?? is it just so you don't run out with all the ideling??

ElitE Perf.

starting your car at night right b4 bed does help...

i duno btu this year i havent had a prob with my winter car and i start it every morning at 5 am and its 79 caddi fleetwood

imported_QUICKONTHEGAS

Its so ur gas lines don't freeze up.

imported_viper_2_4

makes sense....thanks..

TheModFather

maybe use a thinner oil in your engine 5w or even 0w

imported_D dot T

Try to have a full tank to ensure less moisture build up in tank that may cause freezing of lines, check and ensure battery is in good shape. Avoid leaving any lights or accessories on during the night that may drain any power from the battery. Starting up in winter requires more amps then regular seasons. Good idea to invest in a battery booster incase your battery does not have enough power in the morning. Approx. 50/60 bucks at cdn tire. Gas antifreeze may be a good idea as well. Should be running 5w30 oil for this season, less thick compared to 10w30 of if you want to spend extra money, switch over to synthetic, my '94 celica has mobil 1 and starts up no prob compared to my civic which hestitates before starting up. I'm running Castrol gtx in my civic.

imported_loudsubz

man my car runs like a brick when its cold, no P.S., sometimes will pop out of 2nd so i have to put it back in again, clutch moves so slow, whole car is bumpy cause everything is so stiff

I hate winter

imported_~ILLEST CIV~

Plain and simple winter sucks, i had that problem today. .lol wanted to go out and rent a movie at blockbuster...damn car wouldn't start up. . . had to wait for my mom to get home from work to get a boost

Cynikal.Mindset

what u need is a 4th gen...starts every morning, hop in (frozen solid seat) start her up...let the idle drop to a respectable level...get goin (steering is hard as can be)

starting the car before bed is prolly worse since the battery isnt being charged durin that 5-10minute idle period and like kane2k said, its gonna be the same temp in 8hrs or 28hrs