Since you have very cold conditions, why not do what the long hall truckers do and block most of the air flow in front of your radiator? A lot of big trucks have a radiator cover that can be folded and snapped to cover 90, 75, 50 or 25 percent of the radiator. This will enable your engine to warm up faster. You could put a plastic covering inside the grill in the winter season so it would not be visible. A second option is to put in a little higher temperature engine thermostat so the engine would run a bit warmer. You could also add some insulation to the input water line to the heater. I would also check the thermostat to make sure it is closing properly at the temperature that is stamped on it. How long does it take for the blue cold engine light to go out?
Weak 2016 CX-5 Vents
- Thread starter bbtfastback
- Start date
Or put on a block heater.
When I owned a Fiat 850, a small sporty coupe with a rear air cooled engine, I lived in Syracuse, NY, an extremely cold winter city. I used a cheap engine oil dipstick heater and I never had a problem starting the engine even in below zero temps. It warmed up quickly even with the air cooling system in the cold air. I would not take the risk of blocking the air from in front of my engine and running it too cold, especially when there is no temperature gauge on the dash.
bbtfastback
Member
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- 2016 CX-5 GT Tech
The blue light stays on for my entire ride (30m). What does that blue light mean?
Edit: correction - seems to be on for a long time. Tested it this afternoon and turned itself off after 8-10 minutes. Will try tomorrow morning for the regular drive. Sorry for the confusion
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frenchbiker
Contributor
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- 2016 CX-5 GT AWD w/ Tech
It means that your engine hasn't reached normal operating temperature yet. If your blue light is still on after 30 miles, you should have your car checked by the dealer asap, it's not normal.
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- RDX Aspec Adv.
+1
The coldest I have driven mine in is 10*F weather. Light went off in a few miles.
This is likely the culprit for your heating issue. The engine cannot get to normal temp, therefore it can't give you more heat. But this also sounds very abnormal. Sounds like your issue is related to too much coolant circulating around the engine.
This is a critical point in your inquiry that I'm not sure I understand took 5 pages to report.
On a side note, please familiarize yourself with the dash icons by reading your manual.
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- Plano, Texas, USA
Got stuck-open thermostat on a new 2016 CX-5? One more point deducted from my CX-5 quality scale!
bbtfastback
Member
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- 2016 CX-5 GT Tech
Thanks for the background. If I knew it was critical, I would have had mentioned it.
Thanks for the side note. Noted.
Edit 1: I am going to double check that the blue light indeed does stay on for the duration. I remember it being on an awful long time. Will check and let everyone know.
Edit 2: in the car, -5, blue light turns off after 8 minutes
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frenchbiker
Contributor
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- 2016 CX-5 GT AWD w/ Tech
8mn is much better than 30 miles and I'd say it's normal if your car is parked outside in -5F temp. I never park my car outside for a long time when it's sub-zero so I can't compare. My car is parked in the garage (above freezing temp) and it takes about 2 to 3 miles for the blue light to turn off.
bbtfastback
Member
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- 2016 CX-5 GT Tech
Car is parked in garage. Always.
bbtfastback, is your issue resolved? I'm in NC and we do get some cold temps here in the mtns. This car takes longer to warm up than any other I've had. I start my car about 10 minutes before I leave and the blue light stays on for about 2 miles. I can deal with that. My problem is I can't get enough heat from the floor vents. With all the noise the fan makes there's barely any flow. Maybe more on the passenger side. Also, the air still comes thru the other vents, too. Not a lot, but it should be re-directed to the floor if that's where I want it to go. If my feet are warm I'm good.
bbtfastback
Member
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- 2016 CX-5 GT Tech
No. Not solved. Weather has been milder here as of late. If it's -8 C or colder, it's definitely inadequate. I am having the dealer look at it next week. Not expecting anything.
The temperature outside is definitely a factor here.
Ditto for me. I have an 8 mile drive to work and usually by 1.5 miles I'm toasty. No complaints about heated seats either, and it can get pretty cold here at times (in the single digits and teens). I think the OP needs to get that checked out, that doesn't sound right at all.
I assume you started driving in the latter 90's or so as Yugo probably had better reliability than '85 Hyundai Excel. They have come a long long way.. not disputing that fact. For those old enough to remember...I think I would have bought an '81 Chevrolet Citation over the '85 Excel.
bbtfastback
Member
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- 2016 CX-5 GT Tech
I assume you started driving in the latter 90's or so as Yugo probably had better reliability than '85 Hyundai Excel. They have come a long long way.. not disputing that fact. For those old enough to remember...I think I would have bought an '81 Chevrolet Citation over the '85 Excel.
Almost. First real car was a new 2002 Elantra followed by a 2008 Santa Fe and then a 2012 Sonata.
Very happy with my 2016 CX5, with the exception of the very weak vents and heating system overall (including weak heated seats). There is no comparison vs the Hyundais when comparing the temperature comfort in frigid temperatures. That said there is no comparison for the Cx5 to the Hyundais for drivability, entertainment system, safety, etc.
Win some, lose some. Thank god it's been a relatively mild winter. Go global warming!
Will be very interested what others who live in very cold climates think (-15c and below).
I'm actually ok with the climate control temps of my CX-5 GT, but I agree that the heated seats are very weak. My wife got a 2015 Nissan Armada last year with heated seats and the difference is like night and day. The Armada's heated seats heat up fairly quickly and get actually get so warm that you have to turn the temperature down. In the CX-5, with the heated seats set to maximum heat, it takes forever for them to heat up and then when they do, its just barely warm. Kind of a let down. I really like the vehicle aside from that.
mazdadude
ZOOOOOOOOOM ZOOOOOOOOOM
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- '16.5 Mazda CX-5 Touring
I do not understand why some people are wanting something that makes you so hot and uncomfortable that you have to turn it down? (drunk)
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- 2014 QX70 AWD
I'm wondering how body types come into play with the heated seats. I'm skinny, so I get cold easily, and they get too hot for me on level 3.
My gut tells me the heavier (more overweight) you are, the less warmth you'll feel.
So for those of you that find the heated seats inadequate.... are you overweight?
