C-c-c-cold!!!

[Magik Si]

Well, I was very proud of my little 4th gen this morning...get up this morning and it is -44C (-47.2F) outside ...get in the car (like stepping into a refrigerator) and push in the clutch, well I should say I forced in the clutch...man it was stiff! Then I go to turn the key...I thought it was gonna snap off...thunk...turns the first notch...(forcing)...thunk, turns the second notch...turn to start..."rr"..."rrr"..."rrrr"..."sputter"..."sputt er"...it starts, barely, but it starts. Then I go to take it out of gear...and I have to force it as well because it is 'stiff'...I let the car run for 15min, drove another ten to work...and was just starting to get luke-warm air out the vents halfway to work...

It's been like this for 3-4 days now...brutal cold!! You guys that have it that your car never see's winter (or you for that matter) are soooo lucky.

Both my hatch's have absolutely hated the cold...anyway, just wanted to share...amazing that the car would start at all in those temps.

Jason

[sastanley]

Hmmm...I bet the oil was like honey. - that is damn cold son! It was 20F here and that is cold enough for me. We are supposed to see single digits tonight

So - do you guys have block warmers and stuff up there...and what about your battery? Wouldn't that shit freeze too? I have even noticed my two-year old Interstate battery not as strong as it used to be in these temps. It still starts the car no problem, but it doesn't crank it like it used to.

[mycivic]

am i ever happy to say (again) that it doesent get that cold here. 30F is coldest ive expereinced here. gota love that west coast temperature.

[CZ-R]

I've got a block heater in my car - and up here (even though it's always parked in the garage) they're essential. Having an Optima battery helps just as much... Oh yeah, the auto-start is pretty cool too

We've been lucky this year. Even though the wifes car is always parked outside & doesn't have a block heater - or Optima - it always starts (knock on wood )

[Magik Si]

Originally Posted by sastanley

Hmmm...I bet the oil was like honey. - that is damn cold son! It was 20F here and that is cold enough for me. We are supposed to see single digits tonight

So - do you guys have block warmers and stuff up there...and what about your battery? Wouldn't that shit freeze too? I have even noticed my two-year old Interstate battery not as strong as it used to be in these temps. It still starts the car no problem, but it doesn't crank it like it used to.

20F!! That's only -7C...my god...I don't even put my winter jacket on when it's that warm (notice how I said that 'warm' not cold).

As far as block heater...yah we have them...usually don't use it (read = never)...not even sure where the plug is....my landlord charges me anyway if I do. As far as the battery...that's what the "CCA #" means, "cold cranking amps"...higher the better...(can't remember what mine is)
but is seems to do well...

"mycivic"...heh...30F!...(-1.1C)...I don't even "wear" a jacket in that weather...sweater tops!

"Question"...what would make my ignition hard to turn in that type of temperature...I thought I was gonna snap off my key!



Jason

[hilltopper]

A pritty good inexpensive battery is one from costco, umm there own brandname what ever it is. I read in consumer report they did some compariasons, and it was the best in the cold compared to some other brands, like diehard, and those sears and such.

[BigBearWest]

i am with Magik Si when it is is like -7 we don't even were jackets. but it doesn't get that cold here some weeks average -28 but the go's back to -15 right know it is 7, i love living near mountians and getting chinooks

[fiercecivic]

I havnt even bothered to try starting mine up yet. So cold that school was cancelled. Easier to get around on the snowmobile!!

[Carnivore]

well, its thursday night over here in albany, NY, and its around 8:35 and the temp. outside is about -18, wind chill.......probably -30, and let me say im very very proud of my civic as well, cranks a little slow and a belt squels for about 2 seconds but other than that it starts up, work, and the blower motor works on all 4 settings, hehe.

[Kunundrum]

yeah It's Real F***ing Cold here... take takes 10 mins to warm up in the mornings and i'm not sure if she will make it... I'm running 5w50 syntec in the car so cold starts are not Bad... but not a plain old single turn key operation like in the summer... two or three are needed.

I have no block heater and it's not worth me putting one in since this is the last winter the crx will see... i hope...

[Carnivore]

this might be a stupid question, but what is a block heater and how does it work?.....anyone got a pic?.......i mean i know it heats up the block, that i can tell but ive never really heard of em

[90civicracer]

Yeah my car sat in a garage for about a week and a half not turned on one time while we had temps down to about -20. I know it was in the garage but it was still cold as fuck in there, not heated or anything. Got in the car and could see my breath coming out really good and cranked it and it started good.

[SiZ]

My battery was drained twice today and I needed a boost.. Its -23 here right now... I wish I had a block heater.

[Magik Si]

Good god is ever gonna end! Overnight last night -42C (-43.6F)...and this morning when I started my car -39C (-38.2F)...

When someone here says they are "freezing their nuts off" they mean it!!

Lucky my girlfriend was home this morning...I started my car...went back in the house...came out to go to work, locked house...walk up to car, car locked, keys inside...Car locked, house locked, keys in car...-39...

I never lock my car when I start it in the morning...sigh, I had to wake up the girlfriend with my cell phone as I stood on my front step...car sputtering away in the driveway...geezuz it was cold out there.

Jason

[sastanley]

Originally Posted by Magik Si

Lucky my girlfriend was home this morning...I started my car...went back in the house...came out to go to work, locked house...walk up to car, car locked, keys inside...Car locked, house locked, keys in car...-39...

LOL - that is some funny shit. must have been your brain trying to hibernate from the cold dude.

I bet you Candians are laughing at us Americans when we say we are freezing at +10F. - this morning on the Today show in NYC, Al (the weather guy) went outside and said "Whoa, man..the temp is up from 5degs to 6....heat wave!!!" - I can't believe how cold it feels at -40(F or C!!)

I even noticed my controls (heater, clutch cable etc..) a little stiff this AM, but I let it warm up for about 10 minutes and everything was silky smooth by the time I left for work...except for the damn 3rd gear synchros