Cold cranking

[Tonpow]

Anyone having starting issues in the cold weather? Its been below 0 here in the morning for the past couple days. My car starts, but turns over eerily slow. Its like, just as its ready to give up cranking, it starts. It feels like if it had to do one more crank it would die.

2001 ES with 32,000 miles. 90% highway. I wouldn't expect the battery to be going so soon. Unless it's a cheaply to begin with?

Anyone ells in the cold temps have VERY slow cranking?(no puns)

 

[REMillers]

During cold weather a battery can lose 20-40% of its charge, in addition a engine requires more power to get cranking.

Its about 10 degrees here and takes about 2-3seconds of cranking.

May want to look into getting a battery rating for colder weather if you live in such a climate. Course currently we've been experiancing coldness that rarely comes around.

 

[1sty]

I have the same issue. can only assume its typical of this cars starter in colder weather.

 

[Tonpow]

Thats what I was thinking. I remember my sister had an older Nissan Sentra. when it was cold it cranked slow like it was on its last legs. But it always started. I'll just keep crankin till she pukes.

 

[LinuxRacr]

This morning I was leaving work early, and my radar detector has a built in voltage meter. I cranked the car, and the voltage was prety damn low...like in the 11's. I turned on my headlights, and the low voltage warning alert went off.

 

[1sty]

I'll have to monitor my optimas voltage.

 

[LinuxRacr]

I need an Optima Battery. I will have to go to Cosco or Sam's.

 

[VPower]

I'm in montreal....

we've been in very cold temperature lately.. (-25 , -30 celcius)

having hard time to start my p5

2003. 5500 KM...

 

[Newf]

this is strange. I have a house, and an apartment underneath. I have tenants with a 2-3 yr old NEON. The last 2 weeks here have been REALLY cold.. Were talking -35 Celsius( -31F?) on average. They plug their car in ( block heater) every night, and have troubles starting it every day. Brand new battery. I get in the car every morning, turn the key like any other day, baboom...no troubles whatsoever. Yes, you can tell she's cold, it takes about 2 seconds longer to start...woopie. There are cars up and down my road everywhere each morning not starting, and mine works every day. I 've even given my tenants a boost from to time.

2001 MP3, 21000kms. 91 octane all the time.

 

[ZiO]

here is a tip too.... and trust me... it makes a BIG difference..... BEFOR Eyou shut off you car.. shut off your radio and fan, and put on your ebrake.. then wait 5 seconds or so then shut off your car... dont try and start your car with everything running... that all eats juice!

 

[ZG77_OzZ]

Yep I do

I have the same issue. can only assume its typical of this cars starter in colder weather

 

[sundevilMP5]

yeah it's really hard to start the car when it's cold...i mean here in arizona it gets down to like 70F and my car can barely start...

 

[taylor5]

cold start

Yep, same here,,,,,takes a little longer and is a little slower in the " cranking sound" as well to get this baby going. This could be another argument for that "engine block heater"......Plus it cant hurt re-sale value years down the road.

-Taylor

 

[Douggie]

Next time when you're about to do a cold engine start, try this:

Turn your key to the full-on position (but don't crank it), so that the fuel pump starts working for a few seconds. Then crank it.