another frozen fuel line question

[realoldciv]

I've got a 92 Civic. I live in MN, and today we had a HIGH of -2 degrees. I started the car this morning to heat it up. It started fine but there was, and has been for a long time when starting in cold weather, almost like a quiet whine. It tapers off and disapears as the engine catches and idles up, lasting only a few seconds normally. This morning that whine lasted longer than usual, and when I came back out to leave, the car had died. If the car started ok and then died a few minutes later, could it be a frozen line, or would it just not start in the first place? Also, anyone know what that whine might be? It doesn't sound at all like a belt, more muffled. Fuel pump? Oil and fluids are fine. New timing belt, water pump, head gasket. Always has been a reliable cold starter. Just old?

[Miataracer]

hmm... I honestly cant really tell you what that would be. But, you could test your theory of frozen fuel lines with a bottle of Heat for the fuel.

[AKVirgo_75m]

Originally Posted by realoldciv

I've got a 92 Civic. I live in MN, and today we had a HIGH of -2 degrees. I started the car this morning to heat it up. It started fine but there was, and has been for a long time when starting in cold weather, almost like a quiet whine. It tapers off and disapears as the engine catches and idles up, lasting only a few seconds normally. This morning that whine lasted longer than usual, and when I came back out to leave, the car had died. If the car started ok and then died a few minutes later, could it be a frozen line, or would it just not start in the first place? Also, anyone know what that whine might be? It doesn't sound at all like a belt, more muffled. Fuel pump? Oil and fluids are fine. New timing belt, water pump, head gasket. Always has been a reliable cold starter. Just old?

That whine shouldnt be the belts, they squeal or squeak, usually very loud... That noise you hear is usually an electronic fuel pump. Most, if they whine, usually whine all the time, even if they are new, but yours could have been on the edge of going out for awhile. You said the whine lasted alot longer than usual, and then the car died. It sounds to me like your fuel pump finally went kaput on ya. Hope this helps!

Take care and Happy Holidays!!
AK_Virgo_75m

[superbluecivicsi]

gasoline has a very low freezing point...................-140 or something like that. if it froze, it would be like hell freezing over. water in the fuel maybe that froze? thats what causes most fuel lines to bust in the cold. theres a product called heat. pour it in and if theres water in the lines, it will evaporate. follow the manufacturers instructions. other than that. check for fuel and spark. check the fuel pump and main relay.

[AKVirgo_75m]

Originally Posted by superbluecivicsi

gasoline has a very low freezing point...................-140 or something like that. if it froze, it would be like hell freezing over. water in the fuel maybe that froze? thats what causes most fuel lines to bust in the cold. theres a product called heat. pour it in and if theres water in the lines, it will evaporate. follow the manufacturers instructions. other than that. check for fuel and spark. check the fuel pump and main relay.

I know the feeling... just recently found out thats what happened to me... lol it had been so cold up here, that I never considered unthawing it as an option... and the garage is full... couldn't pull it in and run some heaters... =( anyways, I know I had water in the line, I let my tank sit on near empty forever.... gave up on it after I finally rebuilt the carb, and my friend found a busted gas line. lol I did try Heet, its just too bad it doesn't melt ice. =) Ty for the response.

Take Care,
AkVirgo_75m

[prototype80]

i recently had a problem similar to that with my 92 hatch, the car would run for a little while then finally conk out, it was running really well then over the period of a few months the idle started to get rougher and then the problem with turning over and cutting off began. the whine i heard was the fuel pump, even the brand new one i had whines worse than my daughter. the fuel pump being mounted in the tank under your back seat is usually the reason why you hear it. i went on leave for 2 weeks in october and returned to find my car wouldn't start at all, i replaced the fuel pump and the car fired up without hesitation. a fuel pump ran me 89 dollars at auto zone, and was a relatively easy part to change with the help of a haynes manual (also sold there.) to change the fuel pump id say maybe a 2 hour job tops if you are at a beginner level like i am