Car doesn't want to start when cold

tc Bosnian · 01-15-2014, 05:55 AM

Hello, I have a 00 Ford Focus. I bought the vehicle last summer/fall and had no issues with it starting until it got cold outside. When the car is in the garage it starts right up. I work 12 hour shifts and thats when I noticed that it doesn't want to start up. What could it be? There is no lights on the dashboard.

tc Bosnian · 01-15-2014, 12:14 PM

Anyone?

HeavyIOM · 01-15-2014, 12:42 PM

Is the battery any good? Check your terminals as well.

tc Bosnian · 01-15-2014, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calebparkin3

Is the battery any good? Check your terminals as well.

Battery was bought right before the winter.

ShnOmac · 01-15-2014, 12:57 PM

Does it seem to crank slower when its cold than when its warm?

tc Bosnian · 01-15-2014, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShnOmac

Does it seem to crank slower when its cold than when its warm?

When its warm it will start right up with no issues. When I'm at home the car is in the garage so going to work I dont have issues. Now when I'm at work and leaving it takes forever to start. It cranks pretty strong but won't turn over.

I've also noticed that the heat isn't the greatest. So maybe it's a thermostat that's causing lack of heat? The car takes forever to warm up..

Scalded Dog · 01-15-2014, 01:08 PM

Define "doesn't want to start up:" Does it turn over, but not fire... or does it not turn over? Does it make any funny noises, or do anything else that's odd?

Has it only happened in the wake of the ridiculous cold Indiana--- and much of the midwest--- experienced over the past couple of weeks, or does it misbehave in "normal" cold weather, too?

Scalded Dog · 01-15-2014, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tc Bosnian

When its warm it will start right up with no issues. When I'm at home the car is in the garage so going to work I dont have issues. Now when I'm at work and leaving it takes forever to start. It cranks pretty strong but won't turn over.

I've also noticed that the heat isn't the greatest. So maybe it's a thermostat that's causing lack of heat? The car takes forever to warm up..

Yikes! Check your radiator... when you run out of coolant, the heater stops working... often by working less and less efficiently, as the coolant slowly disappears. This COULD be a cause of your hard starts, too, if coolant is low, and might be causing other problems... also, is your coolant a good blend of anti-freeze... or is is diluted, or even straight water (yes, I'be done it in a pinch)?

tc Bosnian · 01-15-2014, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scalded Dog

Define "doesn't want to start up:" Does it turn over, but not fire... or does it not turn over? Does it make any funny noises, or do anything else that's odd?

Has it only happened in the wake of the ridiculous cold Indiana--- and much of the midwest--- experienced over the past couple of weeks, or does it misbehave in "normal" cold weather, too?

Its happening in the normal cold weather. As of this morning it was in mid 20s. Which isn't that bad actually < you know you're from a cold state when mid 20s isn't bad.

No funny noises are made it will crank but won't turn over. This morning I trying for 15 minutes before it finally fired up.

Scalded Dog · 01-15-2014, 01:12 PM

(The heater works by taking the hot water circulating through the engine and radiator, and using it to heat the air that blows into the cabin... when the water in the radiator runs low--- or out--- there's no more hot water to heat the air for the cabin...)

Scalded Dog · 01-15-2014, 01:15 PM

Long shot, maybe somebody more of an expert on viscousity will weigh in: I wonder if the oil you have in it might be too thick, and in cold weather it gets so "thick" that it inhibits starting? Do you know what viscousity you've got in it now?

tc Bosnian · 01-15-2014, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scalded Dog

Yikes! Check your radiator... when you run out of coolant, the heater stops working... often by working less and less efficiently, as the coolant slowly disappears. This COULD be a cause of your hard starts, too, if coolant is low, and might be causing other problems... also, is your coolant a good blend of anti-freeze... or is is diluted, or even straight water (yes, I'be done it in a pinch)?

Here recently I did add 50/50 mix of antifreeze. Even after adding it I'm still having issues.

Scalded Dog · 01-15-2014, 01:21 PM

Not to nitpick, but... did you add the antifreeze because it had been leaking, or was low? Have you checked it even more recently, to ensure that the radiator is STILL full? Just trying to cover bases here...

tc Bosnian · 01-15-2014, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scalded Dog

Not to nitpick, but... did you add the antifreeze because it had been leaking, or was low? Have you checked it even more recently, to ensure that the radiator is STILL full? Just trying to cover bases here...

You're not nitpicking.
I have noticed a leak just haven't had a chance to look what exactly it is. Its a small leak. This morning when I was trying to start I did look and it was just under the "Max" level.

01-15-2014, 05:55 AM	#1
tc Bosnian Drives: 09 a4 1500 silverado 2010 2ss rs Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: fort wayne Posts: 309 View My Garage	Car doesn't want to start when cold Hello, I have a 00 Ford Focus. I bought the vehicle last summer/fall and had no issues with it starting until it got cold outside. When the car is in the garage it starts right up. I work 12 hour shifts and thats when I noticed that it doesn't want to start up. What could it be? There is no lights on the dashboard.

01-15-2014, 12:14 PM	#2
tc Bosnian Drives: 09 a4 1500 silverado 2010 2ss rs Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: fort wayne Posts: 309 View My Garage	Anyone?

01-15-2014, 12:42 PM	#3
HeavyIOM Drives: 2010 SS, 2000 Pontiac Formula Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Missouri Posts: 509	Is the battery any good? Check your terminals as well.

01-15-2014, 12:57 PM	#5
ShnOmac Drives: 2006 Silverado SS, 2009 G8 GT Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: PNW Posts: 13,313	Does it seem to crank slower when its cold than when its warm?

01-15-2014, 01:08 PM	#7
Scalded Dog Drives: 2011 1LT Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Crestline, CA Posts: 3,029	Define "doesn't want to start up:" Does it turn over, but not fire... or does it not turn over? Does it make any funny noises, or do anything else that's odd? Has it only happened in the wake of the ridiculous cold Indiana--- and much of the midwest--- experienced over the past couple of weeks, or does it misbehave in "normal" cold weather, too?

01-15-2014, 01:12 PM	#10
Scalded Dog Drives: 2011 1LT Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Crestline, CA Posts: 3,029	(The heater works by taking the hot water circulating through the engine and radiator, and using it to heat the air that blows into the cabin... when the water in the radiator runs low--- or out--- there's no more hot water to heat the air for the cabin...)

01-15-2014, 01:15 PM	#11
Scalded Dog Drives: 2011 1LT Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Crestline, CA Posts: 3,029	Long shot, maybe somebody more of an expert on viscousity will weigh in: I wonder if the oil you have in it might be too thick, and in cold weather it gets so "thick" that it inhibits starting? Do you know what viscousity you've got in it now?

01-15-2014, 01:21 PM	#13
Scalded Dog Drives: 2011 1LT Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Crestline, CA Posts: 3,029	Not to nitpick, but... did you add the antifreeze because it had been leaking, or was low? Have you checked it even more recently, to ensure that the radiator is STILL full? Just trying to cover bases here...