who has a good winter (sub 0 deg F) starting metro?

[RossT]

My current meto is the best winter starter I have ever had.

I work a 10 hour nigh shift. I go out to my car in the morning and typically it's below 0 deg F out. Today it's -23 F. I have found that when it's below 0 I just give it a little gas, it turns over maybee 3-4 times and she starts up. Idles nice and fast for a while then off you go! Not bad for a car sitting outside not being plugged in.

Only minor issue I have is that the speedo makes alot of noise until the interior has warmed up. I have lubed the cable, and that helps some, but i think it's the speedo not wanting to be cold.


Anyone else have a good winter starter?

[DOCTORBILL]

My '93 3 cyl rebuilt (Head & Rings) starts in less than one second of turning over.

I started it at -3 °F that way.

My speedometer cable does exactly the same thing as yours !

I think the internal cable shrinks and just barely enters the linkage in the dash
and/or the transmission when it gets really cold.

Also, my transmission makes hideous noises when cold and idling after start-up.

I suppose after 180,000 or so, the end bearings are wearing out.

But The Phoenix starts up instantly !

In the cold, however, I have lost my internal lights - Dash and Overhead.
I have lost the left running light.

Electrical stuff is a puzzlement - I am at a loss trying to fix it.

Everything is buried in the Dashboard or in the wiring harness.

DoctorBill

[Johnny Mullet]

My Metro would start in Margaret Thatcher's vagina right now.

[RossT]

One other cold weather issue that I have found is that the throttle return spring system likes to stick when It's super cold out. You give it some gas, and the trottle sticks and doesn't return. You have to stop the car, go out and move the cable/spring mehanism with you hand. Start the car and let it warm up for several minutes, then away you go.

I have had this happen to every metro that I have owned.

[carpenter_jai]

I can only remember a few times that my metro didn't start up in cold weather. It usually needs to be below -25C (-13F) for it to not start. With my block heater plugged in for three hours, I was able to start in -35C (-31F) weather. (I was wishing it wouldn't both times, so I'd have an excuse to not go to work). I've also found that the heating and defrost system are not effective at clearing most of the windows below -25C (-13F).

In really cold weather my speedo also makes an awful noise for a while. And it kind of feels like driving a concrete slab too. I guess that the cold impairs the oil/gas movement inside the shocks. Or maybe when it is that cold, the snow/ice mound ruts get as hard as concrete.

Jai

[leonbentz]

Johny Mullet......way too fuc*in funny!

RossT... I would give your throttle linkage a shot of good oil, so it doesn't get sticky. I would also check the condition of your throttle cable, because threads will fray and make things not slide real good.

I have to admit, my Metro hasn't let me down either, even when my starter solenoid was going out. Cold weather though, my Metro always started, just as good as if it was 100 degrees out and I'm having issues with my cold start.

[SchlockRod]

'92 XFi, 200k miles, starts every time, first try, down to -10 F thus far.
Don't "give it gas". The computer will give it the fuel it needs based on coolant temperature.
The right oil is important. Go by the owner's manual. Use only SAE 5W30, especially in the coldest weather.

[DOCTORBILL]

If your car or mower or snow mobile or snow blower doesn't start well in cold
weather, there is always the old standby...

Starting Fluid.

A can of pressurized ETHER.

Almost ANY engine cannot help but start when ETHER is put into the cylinders.

Any carbureted engine will start (if it would run when it is warm out!) if you spray
ETHER into the carb. "Starting Fluid" is sold almost anywhere.

Now - a truly fuel injected engine (which the Geo is not) has nowhere to squirt
in any Ether - but then again, I have never seen a truly fuel injected engine not start
in cold weather!

I hear that is is not good to use ETHER to start an engine...I but I don't give a big rats
buttocks when I have to get to work and the engine doesn't want to turn over...

So - keep a can of Starting Fluid in the Geo Metro's back end and if it is so cold out
that it won't start, spray Starting Fluid into the air intake and I'd bet you'll be
driving very soon thereafter.

I bet they use Starting Fluid up there in Alaska or at the poles.

Don't break your back trying to start some mower or chain saw or snow thrower
by pulling the cord until you have a Heart Attack -use Starting Fluid to good advantage.

DoctorBill

[Johnny Mullet]

It was -10 degrees here on the North shore this morning. My timer for my block heater burned up a few days ago and I have been too lazy to get up an hour earlier to plug it in or basically, it's too damn cold to go outside and mess with it!

My 1995 Chevy had a little trouble starting, but Christine (my 1998 Metro) started right up with no problem. I was impressed.

[Woodie83]

Originally Posted by DOCTORBILL

Almost ANY engine cannot help but start when ETHER is put into the cylinders.

Any carbureted engine will start (if it would run when it is warm out!) if you spray
ETHER into the carb. "Starting Fluid" is sold almost anywhere.

And if it doesn't start, the ether will help put you in a mood where you don't care. Ever seen "Cider House Rules"?

Schlock is right about the 5W-30 but I take it a step further and use 0W-30 in the winter. It's thinner when cold but acts exactly the same when hot.

[leonbentz]

Good ol' ether. Be careful with that stuff. You'll launch that head to Pakistan I finally got my cold start working good, last weekend and it starts even better now. Never had problems before, but it never used to idle up at the start. My air valve assembly as turned in way too tight.

Funny response Woodie