brrrrrrrrrrr

chicana28

Member
:
2002 Mazda Protege 5
if anyone can answer my question that would be really appreciated..... its -35C here in edmonton ab. and my hood is frozen which unables me to get to the blockheater so i cant plug my car... i just bought my 2002 protege 5... now will this damage my vehicle in the long run if i dont plug it in with weather so cold like this? also i have been experiencing extreme difficulties clutching with the weather so cold especially from 2 to 3 gear.... it feels like its frozen.... i hope this doesnt damage my car cause i LOVE my protege 5....
Thanks
 
wow that's cold....- 35...i wouldn't even bother driving if it's that cold.
 
Edmonton Damn COLD!

I'm from Edmonton as well and I wouldn't worry about the cold.....
just make sure you can get your hood open and plug in your car using an outdoor extension cord. Go to a car wash and heat up your car via hot water. Dry off your block heater cord once finsihed.

You'll find the longer you drive your car, depressing the clutch, you will see that is won't be as stiff as when you started to drive.

Is your Protege 5 lowered? mine is and holy crap does it become stiff!!!! I bounce all over the place (Eibach Pro kit). Kinda cool though.....

Enjoy the frozen hell!

pro5
 
Re: Edmonton Damn COLD!

pro5 said:
Go to a car wash and heat up your car via hot water.

Your car washes are open @ - 35C? I remember growing up in tropical Illinois the washes would close down much below freezing. Guess they pump in extra hot water in extreme cold?

Sorry for the jack.
 
for the tranny get something like redline mt-90 gear oil, this will help those gears when its cold and i think you are offically in the f#@ing cold!!!!and be sure to use the right weight motor oil and youll be fine..
 
NO Damage will happen to the car, just let it warm up..

Clutch is stiff here in the mornings, even when we hit -29, the car will be a little difficult to start, but will, and just give it a few min, and go, as you drive, it will be easier to shift..
 
It IS damn cold here in Edmonton..

Pro5 gave a really good suggestion.. go to a car wash and use the hot water to thaw it out.. and after you wash your car.. towel dry ALL the doors and the frame where the doors close.. including the hatch.. so then your chances are better that atleast one of the doors won't freeze shut.

It may be ok during the day if you start it up occasionally, but at night it's getting down to like -40C.. it's unlikely your car will start after a night of that without being plugged in.

If for some reason you -cant- get to a car wash... another option is to start it every 3-4 hours and let it run for 10 minutes.. but this would involve getting up a couple times in the middle of the night..

check out http://www.edm-mazdaclub.com/forum/ my little cold car adventure is up there :)

Friction: EVERYTHING is open at -35C.. we Canadians are a little crazy..
 
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ok finally here some people got the same problem which i just found out yesterday, stiffly clutch, it is too hard to depress, engage and shift in this weather here in calgary -35, and with the wind is -50c, anyway i never have to happen to my previous car before never heard that happen if you warm your car which i always do, but anyway i am going to have my car check out tomorrow at the dealership to find out can they do something about the stiffly clutch.

i need something to solve this problem or i just need to trade my car if i cannot drive it at -30, always in calgary.
 
Don't Bother

Calgary,
I wouldn't contact the dealership as they are just going to tell you that this is what happens when its this cold.

I find that warming up the car, keeping it indoors overnight, and depressing the clutch while at a stop light also loosens up the tightness.

pro5 in Edmonton
 
i had tried everything like warm my car 30 mins before leaving the parking, depress the clutch so often like at stop, but not helping at all, and i guess there should be some other clutch fluid they can use at a lower temp.
 
Don't Bother

Calgary,
Yeah I didn't think about the clutch fluid. I have to admit that my clutch is very stiff first thing but as I said it does loosen up.

Maybe ask the dealer? Let me know if they mention anything as my car needs to go in pretty quick.

pro5
 
I'm in Calgary and I thought it was cold. I heard in Edmonton its supposed to go to like -50 with the windchill. I am just staying at home out of the cold.
 
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