No start in harsh cold...Why?
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Senior User
Joined: May 2014
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From: N.E Oregon
No start in harsh cold...Why?
Thanks to the advise and guidance on this forum my truck runs good and is well maintained. It always starts at the first turn of the key.We have had temps in the 20's and 30's with a good quantity of snow (14"). Last week ago Monday evening it was 28 and I needed gas. I went to the station 4 blocks away and filled up, then drove home. Overnight the temp fell to 3 degrees. I got up Tuesday morning to go to work and it would not start although it cranked over well. I figured I had water in the gas so I added 2 bottles of Heet. It refused to start every day for a week even with starting fluid...nothing, not even an attempt to fire.
In the middle of the night we had a Chinook and the temp rose to 42 degrees by the time I left work. When I got home I tried to start it and it fired right up and purred like a kitten.
I'm very confused, what could have caused this and what can I do to prevent another occurrence in the future?
Thanks in advance for any input! You guys rock!
In the middle of the night we had a Chinook and the temp rose to 42 degrees by the time I left work. When I got home I tried to start it and it fired right up and purred like a kitten.
I'm very confused, what could have caused this and what can I do to prevent another occurrence in the future?
Thanks in advance for any input! You guys rock!
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 244
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From: Minneapolis & Terlingua
Could be your battery getting old and/or battery cable loose, bad ground or even worn cables/connectors. Just replaced the battery cables on a friends 87 and that one now starts like a champ.
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Senior User
Joined: May 2014
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From: N.E Oregon
Thank you. I am planning on pulling codes, if any, later today or tomorrow.
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Senior User
Joined: May 2014
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From: N.E Oregon
Thank you. The battery, as well as the cables, are three months old. Cranking was not the problem. It would crank over just fine, it just would not fire until the weather warmed up.
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Senior User
Joined: May 2014
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From: N.E Oregon
Hopefully this issue is resolved. I had the ECT checked and they told me it failed. I ordered a replacement and will install it tomorrow. We are forecast for very low temps late next week so we shall see. Thank you all.
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My 93' explorer did the same thing didn't like to start when the temps got down to the low 30s. Would fire right up later in the morning when the temps rose. Ended up being the pcm. I did have a code related to the ignition module signal to the pcm, forgot the number. When it happens you need to verify that it has fuel pressure and spark. check codes.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
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From: Waterloo, Iowa
Tough to figure with newfangled rigs, but WAG something ignition related, that much hasn't changed. Check for a bright, fat whiteish blue spark at a plug. Red/orange is no good. A weak spark, starting will get iffy under tough conditions.
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