ALL CAPS BECAUSE I CARE: COLD WEATHER & STARTING ISSUES

volvomileage · Post by **volvomileage** » 22 Dec 2008, 13:28

hi

i am not a pro...but have u verified fuel pump and or the fuel pump relay ? most of the time a battery with over 600 cold cranking amps helps a lot....just a tip...

)

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 22 Dec 2008, 13:45

Agreed...also switch to 5W30 oil in the wintertime...as it is thinner, it should help with the crank time.

calbrit01 · Post by **calbrit01** » 22 Dec 2008, 15:16

Yeh, that makes sense - I'll check the battery and up to a higher amperage if necessary. Would the fuel pump and relay not affect normal performance as well, rather than just cold starting ( starts a lot better when warm, BTW)?
I use Mobil 1 High mileage, which is a synthetic oil. They only do 10-30 or 10-40, and I am reluctant to change as it did such a good job of conditioning the seals and stopping leaks. What synthetic 5-30W+ are you guys using that makes such a difference to your cold starting? I know Synlube do a 5-50 which may be worth a look, because of my combination of low temps, high temps and turbo.

volvomileage · Post by **volvomileage** » 22 Dec 2008, 15:49

hi...

i use 10w30 in summer and 5w40 or 5w50 in winter, thicker oil is harder to pump in cold temps, i only use fully symth...works for me ...but it gets very cold here...gas line antifreeze is also a good tip if u live in cold temps..good cold temp starts are a combination of a bunch of factors...cold temp seem to bring up a cars weekness..

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 22 Dec 2008, 16:32

I agree... use Mobil 1 full synthetic 10W30 in the summer and 5W30 in the winter...have never had any prolong starts except when my battery was starting to die...then it took 2 cranks...sometimes 3. Preventatively (is that a word?), I went ahead with a new battery.

calbrit01 · Post by **calbrit01** » 23 Dec 2008, 09:11

Well think my bad starting is symptomatic of something else. Car died on me coming home last night. New thread I think...

Post by **stone36** » 05 Jan 2009, 16:07

This is not a starting issue (although I had to crank for about 20 seconds 3 times this morning to get going) but it is a cold weather issue.

What are the usual suspects for seat heaters not working? My passenger unit seems to work fine, but I rarely drive from that seat so I am hoping I can get the drivers up and working again. Is it ever as simple as a switch?

It has been -10 the last two nights and that leather is freakin' cold!!!

Thanks

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 05 Jan 2009, 16:33

The usual culprit for a car seat not warming is a broken wire under the seat...moving it forwards and backwards after awhile seems to bend a wire enough for it to break....take a flashlight and a look see. If that's not it, then it's usually the thermostat under the seat cover.

calbrit01 · Post by **calbrit01** » 06 Jan 2009, 10:37

Both of my heated front seats went at the same time, any ideas on what common compaonet to both seats would cause this?

Thanks

SAL

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 06 Jan 2009, 15:40

I suppose that would be a fuse but not sure what else is tied in w/ the heated seats.

EDIT: Just read this over on S.S. (maybe it was you who asked the question there?) but anyway, here was the response:
"99% chance on the switch. They share a fuse and power relay, so if the passenger gets a warm bottom,
then the driver's switch is the most likely Point Of Failure.

Remove the coinholder/ashtray parts to get under the switches. They'll pop right out. Then swap'em. That should hold you until you get a new switch. Sure, the passenger may complain, but whose ass is more important here? The driver needs a warm butt and a clear head...Clear cut safety issue!"

ALL CAPS BECAUSE I CARE: COLD WEATHER & STARTING ISSUES

Re: ALL CAPS BECAUSE I CARE: COLD WEATHER & STARTING ISSUES