Hello,
The only thing wrong about my car is that every time its too cold outside my car won't start! But then i go try again in a couple of hours and it starts! I don't know if something keeps freezing or if there anything wrong? Its only when its below 20 degrees outside. Every other day its perfect. Any suggestions?

 

Welp... if your anywhere near me.. the deep freeze has been taking its toll on the cars this winter!!

I would check the connection on your actual starter... if there's any snow, or road muck... salt... or just loose. Doesn't sound like a battery if its fine a bit later... but id check that just in case too.

Let us know!

 

oh, god I'm constantly in below zero (ND)..hell this morning it was abt -30.

have someone check your battery too make sure the cold cranking amps are good enough for colder weather. batteries do not emit heat by themself so at around -20 and less the cold can slowly drain power from it causing it to "freeze over" (same results if you left a phone or computer outside in weather like that)...thats why your able to start it later in the day, usually after the sun has been out for a little (helps, just a lil)

If you dont have a good enough battery for that type of cold a good one unfortunetly cost about 150 (at least thats what I spent ) ever since I haven't had an issue and we've hit -64 with wind chill "knock on wood"...idk know where you live but you can also look into a plug in battery blanket which is around the same price i think

if its not the battery it also could be oil thickining up due to cold, people up here buy block heaters which keep engine fluids warm, once again, bout same price ^^

hope this kinda helps, it's a lil of a lot!!!

 

Thanks so much guys! I live in MA and its freezing! I will definitely replace the battery but any suggestions as to which battery i should get?!?

 

Go to the dealership and drop $100 on a stock one. I think they are the best, and are quite worth it. With your car being an '06, I'm sure it has seen its fair share of batteries, most of which probably weren't stock, and I'm sure it's not the stock one in it now, hence why you are having issues. It's your cold cranking amps as guy said. I doubt anything is wrong, it's just so cold around the country right now and these cracker jack cars are taking a beating, as Firefield mentioned.

 

Haha, Firefield, good one!!!

 

You've been watching too? Haha...

 

LOLOL D@MN you both!!! hahahahaha

 

Hahah. What up Fireroast'd

 

So i brought my car to auto zone to get the battery checked and its not the battery! My check engine light came on and i guess i have bad coils? The light came on for all four coils (A,B,C & D)! But what i don't understand is that the check engine light will turn off then back on some other day… so confused!

 

Kelsey - I didn't notice it stated in your posts but does the car click during the times it doesn't start? As in, every time you turn the key, can you hear a click but nothing happens?

Also, I would take what Autozone said about your coils with a huge grain of salt. You stand a much better chance at winning the lottery over all 4 of your coils going bad during a diagnostic scan. The engine light might be as simple as a loose gas cap. My advice for that is to unhook the battery for about 30 minutes (resets the ECU) OR get a proper scan from a trusted garage so you can look up what the fault is.

criminaltc - I am curious about why, on a 2006, you would suggest the car has seen "its fair share of batteries". I live in NH (one state north of Kelsey) and have replaced batteries that were up to 12 years old and only because it was a preventative thing. In the countless number of cars I've owned and several bike, I have had one actual failed automobile battery and one failed motorcycle battery. Please help me understand your comment as I am still learning about this car.

 

bergs- After trying to start the car a few times it starts clicking… I also had the battery tested at auto zone and they said the battery is okay. Getting so frustrated with this car and its my only transportation to school and work! What i don't understand is why ill try it a couple hours later once it has warmed up outside and it will start just fine!

 

Nada mandinga! Hows things?


Kelsey... don't be upset... trust me, these cars are EXTREMELY reliable... especially considering the literal abuse I put mine through

every vehicle has maintenance and sometimes it piles on and others it's minimal... autozone will be just fine regarding the battery... but I agree with "ice"berg... find a reputable garage that will pull the codes (or even the dealer if you just got it) 4 coil packs at once?! Me thinks not... but hey... ive been wrong!!

Did you have the starter tested?

 

Since we can safely assume the battery is okay there are really only a few things I can think to check. First could be a loose battery terminal, second could be an issue with the starter, third could be the ignition switch.

Have you checked that both battery terminals are tight? Pop the hood, grab ahold of a terminal and give it a solid push and/or pull. Check both. Neither of them should budge.

What can happen is, if a terminal is loose it doesn't make a good connection. Because of the amount of power required to work the starter as well as turn a cold engine over, the combination of those needs can prevent the starter from working but still allow things like the dash board to work.

...and since I have no idea how mechanical you are, let's apply "garden hose logic" to the above statement:

What can happen is, if you are standing on your garden hose it doesn't flow enough water. Because of the amount of water required to fill the hose as well as spray the water, the combination of those needs can prevent you from watering your garden but still allow for things like a cold drink.


Check the battery terminals.

 

^^^"garden hose logic"

Pretty much what he said, if not bad battery, check for loose battery terminals, if battery terminals aren't loose then you should check the starter.

fyi...just in case I would check for any blown fuses, i actually just delt with a Acura having the same probs yesterday (dash working, beeping, etc but no sound when turning the key in the ignition)

 

Sounds like you are getting a little testy with me, yet at the end you sound so sincere about learning about this car. Attitude isn't appreciated, especially on your very first post ever on this forum under this username if that were the case with where you were going with you remark.

I said it's probably had its fair share of batteries because of the kind of car it is. These are cars that go through many owners, all of which are usually young and swap out batteries with craptastic batteries so they don't last long, leaving the next guy to have to replace it again, and then the next owner is stuck with a car not starting. It basically the kind of car owners that these cars appeal to basically is what I was saying.

 

AHHH HAAA I love it. What up diggity!?

 

My intent was to ask you my question then include a comparision of my experiences to your post. No attitude. I speak directly and yes, I realize it can come across as "testy".

Based on what's quoted above, it sounds as if it is somewhat common for people to buy this car then immediately replace the battery. Is there some school of thought as to "why"?

 

Yeah... no one can get them to start...

 

I had to replace mine after 32 days of owning it, was pretty P.off'd about it too at the time