cold start issues and would not start in 28 degree weather.
both batteries are good, alternator is good. i do not plug it up. it was the first really cold day today and it wouldn't start. it was 28 degrees and snowing.
My car has 92500 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi there. Check the glow plug circuits and the timer circuit to the glow plugs. The block heater should be plugged in during cold weather if the vehicle is left outside. The glow plugs are to heat up the cylinders enough to start the engine. If the glow plugs are good, then I recommend changing the timer and relay to the glow plug circuit. If you need further assistance with your engine not starting in cold weather, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
If your diesel doesn`t start in cold weather and you remembered to plug in the block heater, your battery may be the culprit. Batteries can lose 35 percent of their power at 32°F and as much as 60 percent at 0°F.
Unfortunately, the 15W-40 motor oils that most diesel owners are used to running flow like caramel in freezing temperatures—hence the reason for so many hard-start and cold weather performance complaints with the 6.0L. The best way to remedy this is to switch to a lower viscosity oil, such as a 5W-40.
A minimum 500 psi injector control pressure is necessary to start the 6.0L Power Stroke diesel. If oil pressure does not reach or drops below 500 psi an injector will not fire. ICP typically reaches anywhere between 800 and 2,000 psi while cranking.
Glow Plugs and Block Heaters: The use of glow plugs or block heaters will start the vast majority of diesel engines on a cold day. Glow plugs work by heating the internal combustion chamber so that conditions are suitable for compression and ultimately ignition.
Diesel is also known to be vulnerable to gelling during the colder winter months. This occurs due to the paraffin wax found in diesel thickening as the temperatures begin to drop. As a result, the fuel becomes clouded and gel-like, causing the diesel to not become combustible while also plugging filters.
Types of operation, such as excessive idling, short run time, light work and city type driving, all contribute to deposit formation which can result in poor cold start. All these operating conditions do not allow efficient diesel combustion.
Your battery is dead
Below freezing temperatures can cause a chemical reaction in your vehicle`s battery which will lead to produce less electrical current. Cold batteries simply don`t produce the same amount of power as warm batteries, and this is one of the most common reasons why your car won`t start.
Most likely the pistons are too tight in the cylinder bores, and the starter doesn`t have enough power to move them against the extra friction when the engine is hot.
The most common reasons a Ford F-250 won`t start are a dead battery, an alternator problem, or failed starter. Search our network of RepairPal Certified shops near you to speak with a technician about your issue.
Most likely the pistons are too tight in the cylinder bores, and the starter doesn`t have enough power to move them against the extra friction when the engine is hot.
In cold weather, diesel engines are more difficult to start because they rely on high temperatures caused by compression to ignite the injected fuel. In fact, starting a diesel engine at 0°F (-17°C) is five times more difficult than starting one at 80°F (26°C).
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
I have a cold weather auto start feature in my auto start remote.
ANSWER : Hi there. The cold weather timer is a great feature to have, but you can adjust the time for the auto start to stay on for. I recommend setting the timer for 20 minutes to allow the engine to warm up. The hardest thing to do on an engine is start it up and shut it off before it warms up. This will gel up the engine oil and causing the engine to fail due to lack of engine oil. If you need further assistance with your auto start system, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : cold start issues and would not start in 28 degree weather.
cold start issues and would not start in 28 degree weather.
ANSWER : Hi there. Check the glow plug circuits and the timer circuit to the glow plugs. The block heater should be plugged in during cold weather if the vehicle is left outside. The glow plugs are to heat up the cylinders enough to start the engine. If the glow plugs are good, then I recommend changing the timer and relay to the glow plug circuit. If you need further assistance with your engine not starting in cold weather, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : cold start issues and would not start in 28 degree weather.
My car isn’t starting, it’s really cold out. I was wondering how can I start it with this cold weather
ANSWER : Hi there. Given the description of not being able to start your vehicle, when it is cold and jump starting the vehicle without any problem. This leads me to believe the battery does not have enough cold cranking amp capacity. The engine needs to turn over fast enough to start. This may be nothing more than a weak battery. I recommend having this confirmed by a certified technician from YourMechanic.
Read Full Q/A … : cold start issues and would not start in 28 degree weather.
Fuel pump engages. Batery good, alternator good volts, jump start helps when wont start. Temp does not matter. Intermittent?
ANSWER : Hello. Thank you for writing in. There are several reasons your vehicle may only start when jump starting. The first and most common is a build up of resistance that is causing you to need a boost of voltage to get the engine started. This may be due to poor battery cables, a bad ground connection, a poor starter solenoid, and a couple of other issues. The first thing you want to do is perform a visual inspection of the starting system. Make sure there is no corrosion build up in the battery cables. You can also check the resistance across these wires and make sure you have a solid connection between components. You then want to make sure the starter solenoid is doing its job. It is responsible for taking the small amount of electricity sent by the ignition and turning it into a huge electrical charge that is strong enough to push over the engine with the help of some gear ratios in its favor. Do some more testing, and stick to the basics before assuming its something seriously complicated.
Read Full Q/A … : cold start issues and would not start in 28 degree weather.
Car was sometimes not starting, not even cranking when i turned the key then after a few times itd start. Now it ont start at all
ANSWER : Hi there:
Without being there to inspect your vehicle, or having information about what type of car, truck or SUV you own, it’s very hard for us to give you some advice. You might want to have a professional mobile mechanic complete a car is hard to start inspection; so they can come to your location and determine why your vehicle is having these issues.
Read Full Q/A … : cold start issues and would not start in 28 degree weather.
Car was running fine with no problems. Only on first start up I would have to let the car warm up do to a 2005 Nissan Altima
ANSWER : Hi there – stalling while driving indicates a heat-related failure; quite possibly the crankshaft position sensor, ignition module or fuel pump relay. First task is to check for problem codes, whether the Check Engine light is on or not. A fuel-related code would be indicative of the fuel pump relay issue. I recommend a stalling inspection by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.
Read Full Q/A … : cold start issues and would not start in 28 degree weather.
Vehicle won’t start, once it’s jump started it only stays running until you turn it off, then it work start again without jumping.
ANSWER : Hi there. There could be two problems here. It is possible that your battery is bad and will not take a charge from your alternator while driving. In that case every time you shut your car off you will not have enough juice to start it again. Inspect your battery – it should have at least 12.5 to 13 volts to start your car, if it doesn’t you will need to replace the battery. The second problem could be that your alternator is bad and not charging your battery, in this case you will need to replace your alternator. Both the battery and the alternator can be tested in your car. If you would like to have the car checked for you, a certified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to diagnose the starting problem and proceed with repairs.
Read Full Q/A … : cold start issues and would not start in 28 degree weather.
My car will not start just days after I got the airbag replaced. What would be the issue?
ANSWER : Hi there. I’m not quite certain that the replacement of the air bag would impact the vehicle’s ability to start; especially if the engine cranks over. It is possible that during the removal and installation that the battery cables may not have been removed. If this occurred, it may have blown a fuse to an ignition component. You might want to have a professional mobile mechanic visit you to complete a car is hard to start inspection, so they can pinpoint why your Mustang won’t fire-up.
Read Full Q/A … : cold start issues and would not start in 28 degree weather.
