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

  • Thread starter Thread starter crashGTR1
  • Start date Start date Feb 1, 2004
C

crashGTR1

New Member
Dec 2, 2003
128
0
0
Chicago
Feb 1, 2004
#1
  • Feb 1, 2004
  • #1
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

New Member
Nov 28, 2003
1,326
0
0
BAYAREA
Feb 1, 2004
#2
  • Feb 1, 2004
  • #2
just too many people having fugged up battery this winter.. GOD!.. lol
i'm glad i live in Cali
 

jadesville

the polarbear conservation corps protects a polarb
20+ Year Stangneter
Oct 8, 2003
2,189
0
47
Gresham, OR
Feb 1, 2004
#3
  • Feb 1, 2004
  • #3
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
 
C

crashGTR1

New Member
Dec 2, 2003
128
0
0
Chicago
Feb 1, 2004
#4
  • Feb 1, 2004
  • #4
jadesville said:
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
Click to expand...

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

the polarbear conservation corps protects a polarb
20+ Year Stangneter
Oct 8, 2003
2,189
0
47
Gresham, OR
Feb 1, 2004
#5
  • Feb 1, 2004
  • #5
crashGTR1 said:
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
Click to expand...

yeah, you could really use a new one of those
 

Pwr_by_FORD

New Member
Jul 1, 2003
62
0
0
Pittsburgh, PA
Feb 1, 2004
#6
  • Feb 1, 2004
  • #6
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

Founding Member
May 14, 2002
387
0
16
Hansen,CT
Feb 1, 2004
#7
  • Feb 1, 2004
  • #7
Wait,
Put a charger on the battery first. I may just have run down, maybe a light was left on or something?
 

MikeStang00GT

Street Master
Founding Member
Jun 17, 1999
1,193
0
0
New York City
Feb 1, 2004
#8
  • Feb 1, 2004
  • #8
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

Founding Member
Jan 29, 2000
3,050
0
0
San Diego
Feb 1, 2004
#9
  • Feb 1, 2004
  • #9
maybe the battery isn't being charged by the engine?
 

Pwr_by_FORD

New Member
Jul 1, 2003
62
0
0
Pittsburgh, PA
Feb 1, 2004
#10
  • Feb 1, 2004
  • #10
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

Founding Member
Aug 16, 2002
4,801
1
68
back in Marylands
Feb 1, 2004
#11
  • Feb 1, 2004
  • #11
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.
 
C

crashGTR1

New Member
Dec 2, 2003
128
0
0
Chicago
Feb 1, 2004
#12
  • Feb 1, 2004
  • #12
JonJon said:
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.
Click to expand...

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

the polarbear conservation corps protects a polarb
20+ Year Stangneter
Oct 8, 2003
2,189
0
47
Gresham, OR
Feb 1, 2004
#13
  • Feb 1, 2004
  • #13
crashGTR1 said:
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
Click to expand...

good to hear, it was time for you need to get a new battery anyways
 
0

02gt714

New Member
Jun 19, 2003
21
0
0
Frederick, MD
Feb 2, 2004
#14
  • Feb 2, 2004
  • #14
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.
 
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