One data point does not a trend make, but I thought I'd share:

So a couple weeks back I inquired regarding our truck's cold start capability and it seemed that many of you had success way down low even when not plugged in. I made this post in anticipation of some extraordinarily cold weather here in Indiana.

So, the night it got to -12 I plugged it in. Started with nary a problem. Last night we had similar temperatures but I did *not* plug it in; that was apparently a mistake.

I'm guessing most if not all of you are familiar with solenoid chatter; you know, the rapid engagement and disengagement of the solenoid when trying to start a vehicle with a marginal battery? Well, my experience was like that, with the exception that the starter would engage, and it sounded like the motor turned a tad, and then would cut out. This happened at a frequency of about three times a second.

I had been thinking I have marginal batteries (it's been slower than normal turning over in the cold weather) so I though I'd give it a jump. So, I started the Escape (nice and warm in the garage) and gave it a try. No luck, same starter chatter.

Perhaps the starter has some frozen water in it? Perhaps the batteries ARE marginal? Perhaps the Escape did not produce enough current to make a difference (my jumper cables are custom built out of fine braided welding cable). Perhaps our truck's cold start capability is not what we all thought? Who knows...

But that's why we have roadside assistance; they will be by to bring the truck to the dealer. And because my dealer is the *absolute best* I have a nice SHO to drive around in the mean time. Although I may go back and exchange it for the Raptor they have in the lot (I always wondered how they drove).

 

That definitely doesn't sound typical! I have started mine at -2F and it spins over just as well as it does at 40F. If you have two marginal batteries, the puny alternator and battery in an Escape isn't going to offer much help. I think it would take at least the Escape and a good heavy duty charger/booster to bring the total current up to the required amount.

Hopefully it isn't anything more than a battery issue. I haven't really heard of any starter issues with the 6.7.

 

I'm with Matt on all points. I hope they get you a couple of new batteries and send you on your way

 

started mine last week at -6 not plugged in(dont even have a block heater) no problems. i get up at 4am start it leave around 4 20-4 30am for work its been single digits most mornings. good luck hopfully they get ya fixed up.

 

One quick question. What weight oil does you truck have in it now, Herman?

 

It's the batteries...I have welding cables for jumper cables as well. About 20' long of course

 

Herman. Just one crap battery will kill it in really cold weather. I agree on batts bad. and always do 2 at same time.

 

The cold has been known to knock what seemed to be like a good battery dead all at once. 20' of even welding cables will still have some loss from Car A to Truck B. And I also agree that if your batteries are 'dead' as in can't be charged, the Escape won't produce enough amps at idle to start our trucks. One of the reasons we have 2 batteries in our diesels...

I am assuming the dealer got you back on the road already?

 

Um it is -40+ windchill here in Lafayette indiana. If it got direct wind last night then I'm not surprised it won't start.

 

May be a stupid question, but when you tried to jump off your truck, did you jump to just one of the batteries or both with one battery positive and the other battery negative?

 

Unless they changed it, the primary batt has the red line directly connected to the aux battery, so there's no need to loop them together. The positive cable goes from the aux directly to the main.

 

Jump starting diesels in these temps is a PITA. Even the little sprinter diesels I deal with require two jump packs, then maybe.
I'm sure you just got a questionable battery, dealer I'm sure will fix ya right up.

 

The 10-40 I believe; (I'd have to look at the sticker, changed in October).

 

Interesting question, answer: one battery, driver's side.

Now I must ask: why?

 

Ok guys, we all were 'right'. (Two batteries replaced under warranty - went up to the 850 CCA over the 750 as well)

It seemed to me that the batteries were weak; I said as much last Friday when I went by the dealership to have lunch with the guys. I'm guessing what threw me off was the fact that it started so well a week or so ago when it was -12.

The tech started the test on the first battery before lunch; the machine did not come up with an answer until a half hour after his return: 'bad'. The second one tested out 'bad' in just 5 minutes.

So they're looking over a few other things (memory seat does not return to position after key insertion, can't turn key to position '0' on shutdown, and an errant backup sensor), so I might not get it back until tomorrow.

No worries though, I'm driving a SHO. (Did I say I just *love* this dealer?)