I didn't plug in my block heater last night, and it dipped down to -37ºC / F (it's the same almost)
So I plugged it in this morning and I've been trying every 2 hours or so to start it. It slowly cranks, but doesn't turn over and start. My voltmeter has shown 12V all the way through, other than while cranking.
I caught someone and ask them for a boost and they obliged, but with their (running) car hooked up to my battery I was still only seeing 12V and the car still wouldn't start..
Does that sound right? Shouldn't I have been getting 14.4? OR at least a little over 12? I was + to + and - to - so I don't see why I wouldn't have had 14.
If I get someone who can put out 14V, do you think it would help? I don't want to have to take the taxi to work tomorrow.
That's some nasty cold temps there! I honestly haven't experienced that yet, so I'm not entirely sure what to say.
The good news is that your battery isn't frozen or dead yet. Your battery will likely pull down the output from the other car somewhat, and you're also going to see some losses through the booster cables, depending on how heavy they are. If they're smaller than a 6 gauge, don't expect too much too fast. If they were making contact, I would have expected to hopefully see at least 13V, but it's hard to say for sure. I would avoid cranking while their engine is running to avoid damage to their charging system. Leave the cables connected, but turn the other car off. Don't try starting until the cables have been connected and the other car running for at least a few minutes to try to get more of a charge into your battery. If possible, I would plug in a charger on the battery at the same time as your block heater.
I would also throw a warm blanket over the engine while it's plugged in to help retain the heat. With that low an ambient temperature, that 400 watt block heater isn't likely to even bring it above freezing without some help. Just be sure to remove it before trying to start - belts move fast and exhaust manifolds heat up quickly too!
BTW - I would always connect the negative (ground) on your car last - and connect it to your engine somewhere - not the battery. It will likely spark when making contact, and you don't want any hydrogen gas nearby when that happens. I've seen the outcome from a distance, and it's not good.
Best of luck.
John
Sounds to me youre gas is frozen in the lines ( get some gas anti freeze should help)., I live alberta, I start my cavalier every 4-5 hours or keep it plugged in. U could also take out youre battery bring it in the house for 2 hours and charge it if needed. install it back in should fire up. How old is youre car battery? I had to get a new one for my car cause the cold cranking Amps was weak. Once I got a new battery it was good.
Good Luck.
Keep us updated.
Yeah, strange thing is it's an optima red top that I got like three weeks ago, so I certainly hope it's not pooched.
I'll try the blanket I suppose, don't have a charger though.
If there is moisture frozen in the lines, you may have to get the car somewhere warmer to get rid of the frozen part, before the gas line antifreeze will be effective. It would be good to use as a preventative measure in the future though.
If you're lucky and there is just a bit of moisture frozen in there near the engine, the blanket may help to keep enough heat in to thaw it. Worth a shot anyway.
John
I'm told the optima bateries are not all that, and they don't last as long, they're just fancy that's all, and yes conventionaly it is 12 v but in reality they put out about 14 v , the cold cranking amps is what you need and from your initial description are lacking, if it does not crank fast enough it wont start, take the batery in the house overnite, it may crank better in the morning.
-37 jeees, where do you live, I thought michigan sucked
Canada son
So I got another guy to try. Connected and the meter showed damn near 15V. Still no fire.
Blankets on, made sure the heater's plugged in. We'll see what happens in the morning.
My booster cable snapped in half
Found out it's 8 ga
Where in Sask are you? I've got family around Raymore, and some have moved to Regina now. My mother was born out there.
I haven't had the desire to visit at this time of year yet, and you are helping me ensure I don't get talked into it anytime soon either... it's only -7C here in balmy southern Ontario.
John
did it crank a bit better, could it be a tired starter?
how far north do you live, this is why I hate automatics? you could towstart it with a truck , maybe even push it if it were a standard.
Tired starter?
It cranked about the same
as in old, any corosion, than again it may just be the cold I never dealt with such low temps , and hope not to
I used to live up nort same type of temp...If you are getting 15 volts and slow cranking could be 2 things..1 st,Bad ground to chassies of the car..2,The oil will also be very thick depending on what weight of oil you are using..I had A simillar thing happen but I had a remote started that would start the car at a preset temp..All was good with car starting..Went out to the car which was a auto..And it would not shift into gear..after about a 1.5 of the car running it slowley went into gear..The block heater will just help with coolent flow and to keep the block from freezing..You might need to get under the car and try to warm the oil pan..That is why in the winter almost all Semi Trucks never shut off in the cold...You can check they make heaters for the oil pans for big trucks..See if they make one for a car..Also if you have a red top it should start it with no issue..That is what I used to run..I now use a Yellow top..Best of luck..
Cold weather is bad for an engine in 2 ways. Oil gets thicker and the battery puts out fewer amps, and in the face of everything you need more power to start. If your battery is dead or frozen then being boosted from another car won't help. You're not going to draw enough power through an aligator clamp onto the sidepost of our little cars. Try another battery.
