Trouble starting in cold weather

liquidfluidity

liquidfluidity

TJ Enthusiast
Original poster
Joined
Apr 30, 2017
Messages
452
Location
IA....
2002 Sport Auto
Straight temp right now is -23*. Windchill = -48*. Jeep sits outside. I have had periodic issues with it starting in the cold. Had the battery tested by 3 people and 2 different tests. Tested good. They were in awe as this battery is 9 years old.... Jeep turns over slowly a few times then just clicks. I wait few seconds and same thing. It's cycling hard enough that it resets my radio and it comes on. I have tested the alternator and it passed. Checked and cleaned all connections. The battery is nothing of quality and I plan to go with a Dekka sealed/dry cell if it comes to that. It's 4am. My rusty but trusty Subaru didn't start either. Of course, the Prius starts.....Going back to bed. If anyone has other suggestions, I'd love to hear them. I've heard about the block warmers but to me that's kind of a band aid and not going to help if I'm not at home. Let me know your thoughts.
 
jimsmith29841 said:
9 year old battery,,,,In cold weather like that. Get a new battery.
Click to expand...
9 years is very good longevity. You state it tests good but most likely warm while testing? Could it be failing on CCA? (cold cranking amps)

Maybe bring the battery inside, warm up and slow charge it, reinstall and try it again.

BTW: My '03 dmax is in the unheated garage. -19 here wind chill -48, it has a block heater and I plugged it in last night when I got home. I'll bet I've only used it a dozen times since new. Works. But in my case I can drive it over and park in the heated shop during the day.
 
Yea agreed, I have had many batteries that crank great in warm weather but as soon as cold weather hits,,its a no-go.
I Try to make my batteries last as long as I can by using a battery charger that does a conditioning to a battery.
My Cherokee battery is going on 7-8 years now, great cranking in summer but it struggles in winter....time to replace.
 
I would have to agree with the battery being the culprit most likely.

I'm shocked that the battery made in 9 years in cold weather, that's impressive to say the least. It needs to be replaced anyways, regardless of whether it ends up being the issue or not (though I'll bet it is the issue).
 
The problem is more than likely not the battery. What oil are you running? In extreme cold if left outside the oil will get to stiff for the starter to turn it. You have a couple options. 1. get it inside where it can warm up. 2. Get a tarp/parachute and cover the vehicle and place a space heater under the tarp and give it time, while at the same time recharge your battery. 3. Drain your oil and bring it inside to warm up, the replace it in the vehicle and quickly try to start it. I have also used a small charcoal grill under the tarp in an extreme emergency, BUT, be very careful if using this method. The best is a propane weed burner, with some metal chimney sections to divert the heat under the vehicle, again be careful to not get flames under the car. Here is a video, I usually cover the vehicle to trap more heat inside.
 
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Once you get it started, let it warm up a little, while exercising the steering and brakes, be gentle, or you can blow hoses. it an automatic, run it through the gears slowly. When everything feels loose, start driving slowly to get the diff oils, and shocks warmed up. been playing this game for many years here in Alaska and have always made it to work. It would also behoove you to add block, battery and transmission heaters of this become a regular event.
 
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I have seen oil viscosity mentioned. I believe it's 5w30 but not 100% sure as it was fresh when I bought the Jeep and I haven't needed a change yet....
 
Since you have another car. I'd wait.
Supposed to be warming up after Friday "here".....from -50º wind chills today to 50º ambient on Monday. Got to be resilient!
 
Unfortunately, in my job, there is zero resiliency...even when mother nature is involved

Went and bought a battery as there has been previous issues when the weather wasn't this cold and I noticed lately as the temps started dropping that it was cranking slower and taking more in general to start. This was what got me to start testing the charging system. Alternator was putting out what it should and as stated, even though the battery was tested, it was in a warmer environment.

No Sears around here anymore so no AGM Die-Hard. I wasn't going to go with a Johnson Controls and was in the market for a Deka. I purchased the re-branded Oreilly's AGM Super Start Platinum. Day one - seems good so far and the high today was -19 with a windchill in the -40s n -50s. Rare that we see these temps but better to have it and not need it.

Going to install all new cables after winter. Everything is in good clean condition yet but it's a 17 year old truck :)
 
I've got a lifetime of winter driving. Have you dumped some gas line antifreeze into the gas tank. From my experience, ice crystals in the gas is the issue everytime if it cranks over.
 
Next, where do you park? How full is your gas tank, when do you fill up?

First issue, parked in a heated garage will warm everything, including the air in the gas tank. A warm room has a higher humidity than the dry frigid air outside. Every night you are adding moisture to the tank which condenses to water as you blast freeze the tank on the road. Park outside will keep the "humidity" level constant.

Second issue, a half empty gas tank is half full of air. Humidity moves to create a balance. If you run on empty, the bottom half of the tank, never actually "filling up", every day even parked outside will add a bit of moisture as the temperature rises and every night that moisture will condense. Eventually creating ice crystals which will block the injectors.

Two things in the sub zero winter weather, park outside, keep the gas tank full.

The battery is only an issue if it is dead. If I owned a tire/battery shop, I'd dump some gasline antifreeze into the tank of every guy who bought a new battery. He'll think it was the battery and will promote you like crazy. You will know that $1.50 on gasline antifreeze solved the problem but why go for the $1.50 sale when you can charge $150.00.
 
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Here is a chart that somewhat explains the issue of starting a vehicle in extreme cold. Batteries loose effectiveness as the temperature drops. Additionally, the oil gets stiffer requiring more power to turn them over. Even a new fully charged battery showing a specific gravity of 1.3 will not have sufficient stored energy to turn an engine over when really -25 or colder engine that doesn’t have a very low viscosity and synthetic oil. This is why those who live and work where these temps battery heaters, oil and transmission pan heaters etc. one other tidbit many do not understand is windchill does not affect your vehicle. If it is -5 with a windchill of -45, you vehicle we still only drop to -5, though it will do this as if it is -45.
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the chart is bull shit. I live here. I've started my truck all winter in -40 temperatures. The power required side is 100% accurate. The power available is a crock of shit.

The big issue is getting gas to the engine.... in the correct mix. Ice crystals in the injectors interupt that function.

EFI at -30 is useless cuz the computer is not programmed for -30 unless the engine has a functioning block heater. An engine with EFI not plugged in at -40 will flood, everytime. And with EFI pumping gas at 85psi to 125psi it will pump soo much gas you will need an oil change.

After having this happen a few times, I sold my ForeRunner and bought an '87 YJ with a carb. Easy way to start a carburated engine.... keep a pickle jar of gas by the brake booster. Pull the air cleaner. Pour a bit of raw gas in. Turn the key. It will fire every time. Pump the gas like crazy, maybe that mechanical fuel pump, which operates at about 8psi will get gas there before what you dumped in is gone. If it stalls, do it all again. I've been doing this for 45 years, did this with my F250s, even my Trans Am.

Best story? In yellowknife we often sledded to a cabin, partied, spent the night. -40 was a warm night. Next morning, choke, prime, pull. All the 2 strokes started instantly. The guys with the new EFI 4 strokes.... had to haul out the genset and plug in the block heaters for an hour.

Sorry but cold is not what kills a battery. Nevada heat is way worse.
 
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liquidfluidity said:
2002 Sport Auto
Straight temp right now is -23. Windchill = -48. Jeep sits outside. I have had periodic issues with it starting in the cold. Had the battery tested by 3 people and 2 different tests. Tested good. They were in awe as this battery is 9 years old.... Jeep turns over slowly a few times then just clicks. I wait few seconds and same thing. It's cycling hard enough that it resets my radio and it comes on. I have tested the alternator and it passed. Checked and cleaned all connections. The battery is nothing of quality and I plan to go with a Dekka sealed/dry cell if it comes to that. It's 4am. My rusty but trusty Subaru didn't start either. Of course, the Prius starts.....Going back to bed. If anyone has other suggestions, I'd love to hear them. I've heard about the block warmers but to me that's kind of a band aid and not going to help if I'm not at home. Let me know your thoughts.
Click to expand...
Popular where I work is the portable jump packs. Keep it inside with you where it is warm, then bring it out when you need to start the Jeep. I know you mentioned not liking the idea of a block heater but I'd recommend that as well. Also one of the magnetic pan heaters that attaches from underneath. We have one of those installed on our generator outside and use it in the colder months. Even being a diesel things are kept warm enough that the generator starts up first try every morning when it does a self test.
 
billiebob said:
That is just crazy stupid. Like hating windshields and driving with it down all winter. Block heaters work. read my other post ^^^^ !!
Click to expand...
Mine is why I've been kicking around the idea of digging up my back yard to run a power line and install a weather proof outlet box to my usual spot in the drive way.
 
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