Grrrr....I hate cold weather (car trouble)

[crashGTR1]

Hey everyone. I never minded the cold until now. I'm pissed off. I'm in Chicago, where, for the past week or so, we've been blessed with high temps ranging from around 3 to 8 degrees, and -20 wind chills. Actually, yesterday was good, with highs actually hitting about 19. Anyway, my car's garaged for the winter, safe from the snow, salt, and, in my neighborhood, the snowplows and *****ty drivers. I've been starting it up every week or so, and I tried it last night..... Nothing. Just the dreaded clicking noise, check engine light, and battery light, even after three tries. All my radio presets are messed up and my lights are weak as hell. So either my battery's dead or it's just too damn cold to start it, which I doubt. I want to replace my battery but should I even bother when it's still cold? I don't want to wait as I want to keep running the engine periodically. Anybody else have this happen? Thanks.
--Adam

 

[KaPPaBaLL]

just too many people having fugged up battery this winter.. GOD!.. lol
i'm glad i live in Cali

 

[jadesville]

you really do need a new battery, when they get old, they die easy during this kind of weather, just replace it and it should solve your problems, and you wont have anything to worry about

 

[crashGTR1]

you really do need a new battery, when they get old, they die easy during this kind of weather, just replace it and it should solve your problems, and you wont have anything to worry about

Excellent. Thanks. You're helpful as always. I ask some pretty damn dumb questions, so thanks for being patient with this hard-headed youngin'. I think the battery is the original which would make it 6 years and 55k miles old, so I think I could use a new one.
Adam

 

[jadesville]

Excellent. Thanks. You're helpful as always. I ask some pretty damn dumb questions, so thanks for being patient with this hard-headed youngin'. I think the battery is the original which would make it 6 years and 55k miles old, so I think I could use a new one.
Adam

yeah, you could really use a new one of those

 

[Pwr_by_FORD]

Make sure you clean your terminals when you install the new battery. Any corrosion will make for poor contact and decrease your starting/charging current.

 

[Twisted]

Wait,
Put a charger on the battery first. I may just have run down, maybe a light was left on or something?

 

[MikeStang00GT]

Hey guys I figure I would jump in since I am having the same exact problem right now. Only difference is that I have a brand new red top Optima that I installed last month. I fired up the car buy boosting it and it won't stay on. I had my foot on the gas for about 15 minutes and kept her idling at about 1000 to 1200rpm and when ever I would let her try to idle on her own she would shake like she was going to shut down. Finally after about 20 min I let off the gas and she sputtered and died. The she wouldn't turn over again. The car has been sitting for over 3 weeks but it is a brand new battery and once I started her up the battery is pretty much out of the equation right? What gives? Thanks for any advice.

 

[Beau]

maybe the battery isn't being charged by the engine?

 

[Pwr_by_FORD]

If the alternator is bad, a car will run off of the battery alone until it's discharged, then it will quit. Being that the car will stay running while your on the throttle tells me that the alternator should be working(how well, we don't know). Being the temps have been so cold, the battery may be just too dead for the alternator to charge it in 15-20 minutes. I would take the battery out of the car and get it on a charger. Let it charge overnite on a low setting, then give it a try. If you have the same problem again, get your alternator checked to see if it's charging...

Hope this helps!

 

[JonJon]

So far I've been lucky... Battery is still the original one, almost 5 years old, 50k miles. It's cold as crap in MA too.

 

[crashGTR1]

So far I've been lucky... Battery is still the original one, almost 5 years old, 50k miles. It's cold as crap in MA too.

Well, I tried charging the old battery....no luck. So I dragged my winter beater over to Pep Boys and got some Energizer deal that has 600 or 700 something amps. Started her up...running beautifully. I'm out of $65 though dammit.
--Adam

 

[jadesville]

Well, I tried charging the old battery....no luck. So I dragged my winter beater over to Pep Boys and got some Energizer deal that has 600 or 700 something amps. Started her up...running beautifully. I'm out of $65 though dammit.
--Adam

good to hear, it was time for you need to get a new battery anyways

 

[02gt714]

We also have a 03 GT vert, w/ an alarm system in it. During the winter it doesnt get drivin. This cold weather just dont like the batteries. Even in the other vehicles if they arent drivin. more then likely, put the bat on a charger, maybe a trickle charge for a day, day and a half, and you should be fine. my 02 has never had a dead battery. i always make sure i take it out atleast 2-3days a week.