| Author | Message | ||
     carl J. Drumgoole (Carl_kps) Member Username: Carl_kps Post Number: 90 Registered: 02-2003 |
Like most of you know it has been pretty cold in the north east lately. When ever it get really cold, 10 F and colder my Disco 2 sometimes has a little trouble starting-up. (When it gets below 0 sometimes she takes a couple of seconds of turning over to finally start up.) I recently had the starter go, (while in the wood camping one night, some how I got the car started), so I replaced the starter and had the battery checked. I am just wondering if there are any suggestions for better cold morning starting. | ||
| Dean Brown (Deanbrown3d) Senior Member Username: Deanbrown3d Post Number: 1304 Registered: 02-2002 |
A couple of seconds turning over is not a big deal. A decent battery will turn over for several minutes so what are you worried about? Mine's the same, especially this morning (10 degrees). | ||
| carl J. Drumgoole (Carl_kps) Member Username: Carl_kps Post Number: 91 Registered: 02-2003 |
It just that this morning it sounded like the starter took about 2 seconds to kick in. When I turned the key the car made a hum (the sound when the starter is not working) and then turned right over. Is this normal in the cold or is my starter acting up. I just had my starter replaced under warranty in November. | ||
| James Micheal Fulcher (Jamesf) New Member Username: Jamesf Post Number: 26 Registered: 06-2003 |
Run an extension cord from the house and put a 100 watt light bulb under the hood to help keep it warm. Kind of like a poor mans glow plug. Just dont forget it and drive off with the extension cord. Hey it works to keep pipes from freezing. Good luck. | ||
| Chris Browne (Chris_browne) Senior Member Username: Chris_browne Post Number: 562 Registered: 02-2003 |
my truck is sitting in my barn with an engine heater ($40) plugged in, and the battery maintenance charger attached.....best defense against cold is to plan | ||
| Tim '92 RR (Snowman) Senior Member Username: Snowman Post Number: 652 Registered: 12-2002 |
I found a block heater gave me quicker tune over and faster heat & defrost. Also it's easier on the starter in the long run. I have owned two and they always worked great. | ||
| Carl E. Cedeholm (Cederholm) Member Username: Cederholm Post Number: 183 Registered: 03-2002 |
Carl Make sure all your cables are tight. (I'm thinking the one on the starter) The starer motor should turn over as soon as you turn the key. ...the truck might take a second to fire, but the starter motor shouldn't. Carl C | ||
| Bill Ross (Billr) Member Username: Billr Post Number: 126 Registered: 11-2002 |
-10F that's nothing. We've been suffering through -25 to -40C up here. What I do with my '93 RRC is to turn the key to the run position first for a few moments and let the fuel system gets pressurized. You also warm the battery slightly with the ABS pump and interior fan running and the DRLs coming on. Then going to the start position seems to work pretty good with just a bit longer cranking time then normal. This works well after the truck has sat out at work all day. At home, I plug my block heater in which is good for the motor temp; but everything else, including the fuel system, is still pretty frigid so the pause in turning to the run then start positions still seems to help. Obviously, all the other suggestions made about making sure the vehicle is prepped for this kind of weather are right on. Making sure that all the electrics are up to snuff, antifreeze to the proper mix, etc. all help. I run synthetics in everything, as well, since normal fluids just don't cut it when it gets this cold. Of course, I still get some bizarre sounds coming out of stuff thanks to the cold and its affect on bearings, the belts, etc but hopefully that's not causing any long term problems. |
