[Ghoser777]

It's -9 in Chicago right now, (-26 windchill), and my car won't start. This sucks Any good ideas for me? (2003 Maza Protege)

[Eriamjh]

Battery is probably weak. Get a jump start or put a charger on the battery.

[bstone]

With every detail possible, please describe what it is and is not doing. Does the engine make any noise? Do the internal lights come on?

[vmarks]

bstone, he told you what year/make/model.

If you turn the key and hear click-click, that's the starter not getting enough battery.
If you can turn the key and it spins the engine quickly, and just isn't starting, you've got other problems, like no gas getting to it, or no spark.

[Peder Rice]

Psh. I had -30º F air temperature this morning. My car started like a champ (I also started it in the middle of the night, and about eight times yesterday, but hey, it's running!)

A workmate of mine had a low battery - should of been simple enough to fix with a jump from a running car, right? Nope. The hood of his car was iced shut.

[nredman]

mine didnt start yesterday too - it was like -20 i dont know what it was with the wind chill

[andi*pandi]

[brassplayersrock²]

[the_glassman]

A big Red Top Optima battery and a switch to lower viscosity oil for winter wouldn't hurt.

[Ghoser777]

Well, it was the battery. I've got a nice new one and all should be well (my old was giving off 20% of its maximum charge...)

[brassplayersrock²]

only 20% from a 2003 battery? was it within warranty? did you have to pay for the new one??

-a

[mduell]

Remove the battery from the car and leave it indoors for a day.

[mindwaves]

You clicked this right? Just making sure.....

[OldManMac]

A Four year life isn't uncommon on a battery, especially one that's used mostly in city driving, and in colder climates.

[Eriamjh]

Originally Posted by andi*pandi 

Block heater?

[Dakar²]

Originally Posted by brassplayersrock 

The car's front end looks very aerodynamic that way. Look for it in 2012.

[zerostar]

you should trade it for this:

AWESOME 2000 Honda Civic EX, custom magenta paint!

[Dakar²]

Well, at least it'll match his RAZR.

[Gossamer]

Originally Posted by Ghoser777 

Well, it was the battery. I've got a nice new one and all should be well (my old was giving off 20% of its maximum charge...)

Originally Posted by mduell 

Remove the battery from the car and leave it indoors for a day.

How warm was the battery when this was tested? Like mduell said, leaving it inside for a day will warm up the insides and you'll get more charge off of it. But I'm guess that if you have a new battery then you've already turned the old one back in.

[kat81]

Get one of these
I got one, not that same one, but I got one. $30 - charge it in the house in the regular outlet - put it in trunk/backseat when charged. It lasted 6 jumps (including this morning, when it was -10º and the battery was DEAD)...and now it's charging back up.

100% best investment made. (and I have a old P.O.S. 1995 Toyota Corolla!)

[maximusbibicus]

Is it stick? If this happens in the future, push start it. Get it moving, jump in, clutch in, 2nd gear and pop that baby!

[macintologist]

You should buy a Maybach Exelero

[Dakar²]

Ack. Looks like a wannabe batmobile in faux 50s style.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by maximusbibicus 

Is it stick? If this happens in the future, push start it. Get it moving, jump in, clutch in, 2nd gear and pop that baby!

And possibly melt the catalytic converter by putting unburned gasoline in it.

[OwlBoy]

Mine would not start either. (up in Wisconsin)

-Owl

[Gossamer]

I got a new battery last spring, and my car's never not started on me. I'm keeping my fingers crossed though.

[Mastrap]

Originally Posted by Railroader 

And possibly melt the catalytic converter by putting unburned gasoline in it.

Nah. Push starting a stick car is perfectly fine.

[d4nth3m4n]

don't forget to add drygas to your tanks when it's crazy cold.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by Mastrap 

Nah. Push starting a stick car is perfectly fine.

OK, you can believe that. But I am 100% in disagreement with you.

I've seen too many melted converters that ended up restricting the exhaust. Unburned gas dissolves the materials inside of modern converters.

But you know, who am I? Just the guy who worked as an experimental mechanic in research and development for the largest auto manufacturer in the world.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by d4nth3m4n 

don't forget to add drygas to your tanks when it's crazy cold.

It's cheaper just to keep the tank full. This decreases condensation and eliminates water being introduced into the the tank.

[Dakar²]

Originally Posted by Railroader 

OK, you can believe that. But I am 100% in disagreement with you.

I've seen too many melted converters that ended up restricting the exhaust. Unburned gas dissolves the materials inside of modern converters.

But you know, who am I? Just the guy who worked as an experimental mechanic in research and development for the largest auto manufacturer in the world.

Note to self: If ever with misfortune/opportunity to clutch start GM car, don't do it.

That said, my Renault and Scirocco survived several clutch starts with no problems.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by Dakar² 

Note to self: If ever with misfortune/opportunity to clutch start GM car, don't do it.

That said, my Renault and Scirocco survived several clutch starts with no problems.

I know your just trolling and trying to bait me, but...

Fool yourself into believing it's GM cars only, that's your burden. We also had a division called "competitive teardowns". I assure you, its universal that it will brake all converters.

[Dakar²]

Originally Posted by Railroader 

I know your just trolling and trying to bait me, but...

Nah, I was poking. What I did was to much older cars. I suspect that what you say is true for todays more modern cars.

[maximusbibicus]

Originally Posted by Railroader 

I know your just trolling and trying to bait me, but...

Fool yourself into believing it's GM cars only, that's your burden. We also had a division called "competitive teardowns". I assure you, its universal that it will brake all converters.

Long story short, i jump started a Chrysler 3 or 4 times a day for 3 weeks straight. Ended up putting another 100,000km after that. The car eventually was sold with over 400,000km and an ORIGINAL exhaust (includes cat), and passed emissions just fine.

[OldManMac]

Originally Posted by Railroader 

I know your just trolling and trying to bait me, but...

Fool yourself into believing it's GM cars only, that's your burden. We also had a division called "competitive teardowns". I assure you, its universal that it will brake all converters.

"Brake" is what a car does when you step on the "brake" pedal. "Break" is what happens when something on the car, such as your catalytic converter, no longer functions, because you "broke" it.

You are correct about possibly damaging your converter by push-starting a car.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by Railroader 

Unburned gas dissolves the materials inside of modern converters.

Originally Posted by Dakar² 

Nah, I was poking. What I did was to much older cars. I suspect that what you say is true for todays more modern cars.

I know. I like this little game you and I play.

Originally Posted by maximusbibicus 

Long story short, i jump started a Chrysler 3 or 4 times a day for 3 weeks straight. Ended up putting another 100,000km after that. The car eventually was sold with over 400,000km and an ORIGINAL exhaust (includes cat), and passed emissions just fine.

See my above post and see the emphasis.

Originally Posted by KarlG 

"Brake" is what a car does when you step on the "brake" pedal. "Break" is what happens when something on the car, such as your catalytic converter, no longer functions, because you "broke" it.

You are correct about possibly damaging your converter by push-starting a car.

1. Please don't correct my spelling unless you want me to correct your grammar.

2. Thank you.

[Dakar²]

Originally Posted by Railroader 

I know. I like this little game you and I play.

Thankfully, it's been a little more amicable lately, if only because we haven't run into something we seriously disagree upon.