Thread: Cold temp no start

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  1. #1 Cold temp no start 
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    My car will not start when outside temp is cold, say below 50 degrees. The starter will not engage. Once it begine to warm up it starts as if nothing happened. Ideas?
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  2. #2 Re: Cold temp no start 
    GXP Level Member SlowM90's Avatar
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    I know sometimes cold weather can reduce your battery strength...thats a idea..
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  3. #3 Re: Cold temp no start 
    I live here. SyntheticShield's Avatar
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    Very true. A trick I was taught some time ago was to turn on your headlights for about 15 - 30 seconds before starting a vehicle in cold weather as that caused current flow and thus a little warmth in the battery and such.
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  4. #4 Re: Cold temp no start 
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    jumpstarting had no effect. Something is interupting power to the starter.
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  5. #5 Re: Cold temp no start 
    GrandPrix Junkie Sabrewings's Avatar
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    Could be the cold is affecting the starter relay. Or solenoid, not sure which one GPs have.
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  6. #6 Re: Cold temp no start 
    GXP Level Member SlowM90's Avatar
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    Try this and see if it helps.Disconnect the cables from the battery to the starter motor
    Clean the terminals with clean dry cloth/rags Fix them back, and make sure they are properly secured and then try it when its cold. Or it could be a ignition switch your not getting fire in cold weather.

    EDIT: Also! If your battery is DEAD jumpstarting wont help it! It takes about 400amp to charge a battery I believe jumpstarting is around 30 give or take. Unless your left it hooked up for about a hour.
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  7. #7 Re: Cold temp no start 
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jess3103 View Post
    EDIT: Also! If your battery is DEAD jumpstarting wont help it! It takes about 400amp to charge a battery I believe jumpstarting is around 30 give or take. Unless your left it hooked up for about a hour.
    Jump starting gives it just enough charge to help it start the car. Then the car's alternator takes over to continue charging the battery.
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  8. #8 Re: Cold temp no start 
    GXP Level Member SlowM90's Avatar
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    If your battery is DEAD a car jumpstart will not start it right off hand. It takes awhile to charge it up off of a car/truck. Or so it did on a 99 mustang! The battery was DEAD hooked it up to another car it took 30min just for the lights in the inside to barley come on.
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  9. #9 Re: Cold temp no start 
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    If that's the case and you're in a rush you can disconnect the dead car's battery. Connect the positive jumper to the dead car's fuse box and the negative to the engine block. Start the car (it will work instantly), disconnect jumpers, and reconnect battery.

    The reason it takes a while is the donor car is trying to charge up the dead battery as well as start the car. You have to take one of those two out, then let the dead car's charging system take over.
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  10. #10 Re: Cold temp no start 
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    Ok, please understand what I'm saying - this is temp related. The battery has nothing to do with this issue. When the outside temp begins to warm up, the car starts first hit, no hesitation. When it doesnt start I have full battery power to everything else, just not to the starter.

    I'm guessing that no one has ever had this problem. I'll keep researching. Thanks for trying
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  11. #11 Re: Cold temp no start 
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    Quote Originally Posted by mph68 View Post
    Ok, please understand what I'm saying - this is temp related. The battery has nothing to do with this issue. When the outside temp begins to warm up, the car starts first hit, no hesitation. When it doesnt start I have full battery power to everything else, just not to the starter.

    I'm guessing that no one has ever had this problem. I'll keep researching. Thanks for trying
    Quote Originally Posted by Sabrewings View Post
    Could be the cold is affecting the starter relay. Or solenoid, not sure which one GPs have.

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  12. #12 Re: Cold temp no start 
    GT Level Member JJ91284's Avatar
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  13. #13 Re: Cold temp no start 
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jess3103 View Post
    If your battery is DEAD a car jumpstart will not start it right off hand. It takes awhile to charge it up off of a car/truck. Or so it did on a 99 mustang! The battery was DEAD hooked it up to another car it took 30min just for the lights in the inside to barley come on.
    It will start instantly as long as the other cars ignition system is good. Have someone in the running car rev it to 3k rpm or so and wait 20 seconds or so and then crank the dead car while the other person is keep the other engine revs up. It works every time and I do this every winter with my company's cars/truck fleet as people always leave the lights on. Make sure all accessories in car running and car nut running are turned off to allow as much power as possible for other vehicle to start. Whatever you do, don't touch the ends of the jumper cables together to see if theirs a spark. That is VERY bad for your ignition system and I see so many people do that.
    1997 Black GTP 72k (4dr), 3.5 Pulley, Wbody Downpipe, Wbody Shift kit (street), DHP 1.0, NGK TR55ix Spark Plugs, GMP Handling kit, KYB AGX Struts, AT Italia Inox 245x45x18 Goodyear Eagle F1, GMPP Springs, Corvette C5 Calipers, Blazertech 3200, DHP Powertuner (97-03), Built Trans, Torsen Diff
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  14. #14 Re: Cold temp no start 
    GXP Level Member SlowM90's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mph68 View Post
    jumpstarting had no effect. Something is interupting power to the starter.
    ^^ Sorry When you put that I guessed it was your battery and jumpstarting had no effect! sooooorrrrryyyyyyyy
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