Carolina boy in Iowa: Cold weather car trouble.

[Egon]

Well; a lot of unknowns here.

The car should be properly tuned. The charging system should be working. The battery should be able to hold a charge. Old batteries do not like cold weather.

A block heater is perfect if power is available. Battery warmers also help. Antifreeze is important but does not affect the starting. A multi viscosity oil that is changed regularly helps. Fuel that is not contaminated by water is critical. There are fuel additives for this.

Suspect an old battery, old spark plugs, low compression. Cold weather quickly shows up the items that are lacking.

Hate to say it but the lad probably needs the on site help of a knowledgeable person.

 

[kenmac]

Amen.

I've told him for years, if you're going to be stupid, you better be tough.:laughing:

(In the interest of full disclosure I have to say that he has never been in trouble, no alcohol or drugs. He has a full time job with benefits and insurance and does not call home for money even though he's barely getting by.

But as kenmac says, life will teach them the lessons the we couldn't.

I know what you mean. My oldest is a good boy (young man) He went to college (I paid for college )doesn't do drugs or anything. He is a Full time Paramedic for 2 fire departments so, he isn't what I would call lazy. He called me last week and said that he had an engine light his wife's vehicle. I told him to come by and I would scan it or to go to the dealer and let them check it out. Well, in fashion , he Procrastinates..... So, he calls me last night at 9:30 pm and ask if I can hitch up the trailer and come get he and his bride because this vehicle with check engine light has gone into limp mode and has no power to get he and his bride home

SO, George,,,, Just letting you know that, you're not alone !!!

 

[Looking4new]

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.

 

[sld]

It took me until around my mid to late 20's to realize that my Dad was a pretty smart guy. Looking back, wish I wasn't such a dumba$$.

What's funny is about that same time he realized I was pretty good at some things. Together we tackled a lot of projects and were successful.

 

[Redneck in training]

I would add one more thing. If you travel outside the city it is advisable to have warm boots, good gloves and hat, warm jacket, warm pants, perhaps even sleeping bag, several can candles in the car. When unprotected even for relatively short time at temperature below about 5F it can be life threatening very quickly. Can candle can keep the car several degrees warmer than outside. I remember the time before mobile phones became commonplace. Every year several people froze to death due to being stuck in the snow drift or in the ditch sometime not too far from civilization only because they were not prepared. Every monkey has a mobile today so it doesn't happen that often anymore. In any case it is better to be prepared.

 

[mfreund]

This won't do you any good with out an outside outlet but I work with several people from New Hampshire. We were talking about this yesterday and one guy said they would use one of the hand held work lights and just set it under the hood with a 100 watt bulb. He said it would keep the motor warm enough to make a difference in starting.

Not here in Iowa the last 2 days!!

 

[bigtiller]

I would add one more thing. If you travel outside the city it is advisable to have warm boots, good gloves and hat, warm jacket, warm pants, perhaps even sleeping bag, several can candles in the car. When unprotected even for relatively short time at temperature below about 5F it can be life threatening very quickly. Can candle can keep the car several degrees warmer than outside. I remember the time before mobile phones became commonplace. Every year several people froze to death due to being stuck in the snow drift or in the ditch sometime not too far from civilization only because they were not prepared. Every monkey has a mobile today so it doesn't happen that often anymore. In any case it is better to be prepared.

That's good advise. I had to walk a mile to get home in a blizzard when I was 16. I learned what cold is that day.

 

[stuckmotor]

I think I read a post somewhere on this forum that it helped to take a battery out of the car, and store it in a heated environment, on exceptionally cold nights.

 

[stuckmotor]

Did he try jumper cables? Success or lack of success with them, should have given an indication as to whether the problem was caused by a poorly tuned engine or a weak battery?

 

[Redneck in training]

I would add one more thing. If you travel outside the city it is advisable to have warm boots, good gloves and hat, warm jacket, warm pants, perhaps even sleeping bag, several can candles in the car. When unprotected even for relatively short time at temperature below about 5F it can be life threatening very quickly. Can candle can keep the car several degrees warmer than outside. I remember the time before mobile phones became commonplace. Every year several people froze to death due to being stuck in the snow drift or in the ditch sometime not too far from civilization only because they were not prepared. Every monkey has a mobile today so it doesn't happen that often anymore. In any case it is better to be prepared.

I forgot to add jumper cables, lantern or good flashlite, charged mobile phone.