When the temps drop below 32F, my Patriots develops several problems. First, my steering becomes very loud, especially when turning left. Secondly, the engine is very sluggish and makes a higher-pitched whine. I know I should let it warm up, which I normally do, but it usually takes over 5 minutes to warm up enough that the problem goes away/lessens. However, I am a volunteer fire-fighter and I do not have the luxury of being able to warm it up for calls. This morning it was 14F and it was very sluggish/loud. Noone else in my fire dept seems to have such the issue that my Jeep has. Any suggestions/ideas?
Cold Weather issues...
csu111
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i'd say for some people on this thread, it's understandable why they would have difficulties starting their vehicles. however, for people who are having difficulty when it's not even below 0...i'd say something is not right. my 8 year old honda civic starts without a problem, even when it was 8F one time. i would take it into the dealership. could be a starter issue, spark plug issue, battery issue, or possibly even an alternator issue if the battery isn't getting charged properly
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If you do make your own rad cover do should put it between the radiator and the grill (not in front of the grill).
This way you would prevent any scratches.
I did this with a piece of cardboard and it worked great.
This way you would prevent any scratches.
I did this with a piece of cardboard and it worked great.
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lol you're close but I think the true test sites should be Barrie ON for the snow handling and Saskatchewan for the cold. We are full of it when we think we can "tough" out our winters while more often half of the rest of Canada has more severe winters than us here realistically
hey do you think a Pat on skis made a good sled for our dog teams btw... if Im ever in a hurry
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Hey Ive done it before...by cutting out slots of cardboard that fit into each grill - and then another one between the rad and the slots in the lower front bumper section. I thought it would work but it didn't really make any difference at all.
Do you think the fact that I have a Trailer Tow Pkg with an automatic engine cooler would have anything to do keeping the engine cooler than it should? Thats the only thing I could think of...
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I've also read this is my manual, and I will check the power steering fluid level, just for kicks. But I don't think that's it. This noise is from the lower left front, and occasionally the right, but it's not present all the time, and it's more of a mechanical creaking sound than a pump noise.
Mine does the "no shift" thing when it's cold too (below 20 deg. F). I just figure the trans is protecting itself, or running the engine at a higher rpm to help speed warm-up time. I just drive it easy out of my development, then up the main road. Usually by the time I hit the Wawa (convenience store) a few blocks up, she's shifting fine and blowing heat.
I pull off the battery cover/fresh air duct on my air cleaner for winter time. It get's about 10 deg. warmer air into the air intake (once it warms up that is). I am tempted to connect a duct/hose over to above the exhaust though (like jepstr setup).
I pull off the battery cover/fresh air duct on my air cleaner for winter time. It get's about 10 deg. warmer air into the air intake (once it warms up that is). I am tempted to connect a duct/hose over to above the exhaust though (like jepstr setup).
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Mine must be a fluke. It runs so quiet at -5f that I thought I shut it off. If the joints and struts creak some when its good and cold, but it goes away when warm, I dont think I'd worry too much. The grease gets hard when it gets real cold. My girls 2008 Focus makes all kinds of creaks and groans when it's cold. Maybe our friends to the north have some tricks for keeping the lube flowing when its cold. If they can run their Jeeps at -30F, we should be able to run ours at 20F.
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The engine cranking thing sounds to me like the batterys fault, not the vehicles. Granted, the stock battery in these things hasn't seemed to me to be too impressive during cold weather use, but the fix for that ought to be simple enough.
When you say "moderate", what do you mean? It is normal for the temperature gauge needle to remain below the half-way mark.
Dunno about that cold draft of yours - mine does nothing of the sort.
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-34C Here this morning. Jeep had been sitting all weekend in that temp. Started first try but not happy about it. I have the block heater, battery blanket and cardboard winterfront. Sqealing and sluggish have been normal for the first 10min. Doesnt heat up very well in these temps. But its great in the snow. One Flat tire and Rear window washer fluid freeze up so far this winter(not that bad)
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Having lived through cold winters every year, below is what I find works best. By cold winters I mean -40C (-40F), no windchill:
The nice thing is most of this really does not cost anything.
- Cover radiator (even slipping a piece of cardboard in the small space between the radiator and grill will work). It can be quickly removed if necessary.
- Park in a sheltered area when possable. Even if the enclosed space is not heated it can mean a temperature difference of 10-20 degrees.
- Use synthetic oil. I have been using Mobil 1 EP 5W-30 with excellend cold start results. Most engine wear occurs during those cold starts too.
- Use your block heater. Sounds easy, but so many rarely use it.
- Consider a battery blanket. Keeping the battery warm extends its life and increase peformance.
- Use good quality fuel and keep your tank 1/2 full or more. Avoid using the terpentine/gas found at 7/11.
The nice thing is most of this really does not cost anything.
I have had no issues down to 37 below. I slip cardboard between the grill and rad, makes a difference in the amount of time to warmup and how hot the coolent gets. I have a scanguage so have a good readout. Don't forget the cardboard when it warms up. Having the AC on with the heater helps keep the inside windows from frosting.
If you want warming issues try a diesel pickup at subzero temps. If not plugged in it ain't going anywhere. It also takes many miles on the highway before warming.
If you want warming issues try a diesel pickup at subzero temps. If not plugged in it ain't going anywhere. It also takes many miles on the highway before warming.
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Sorry, I meant my gauge needle usually doesn't even stay half-way between COLD and the Middle of the gauge. It should learn closer to the half-way mark and not the C. Unless I pull out of a warm garage to begin with or let it idle a while without having the heaters cranked.
The cold draft, Im wondering if European models use slightly different materials for the interior. The Euro model I've been in had a different shift boot at the least. Maybe the materials are better insulated and fitted. The plastic interior even squeaked less than my N American model.
My ambulance tends to run rough as hell in cold temps if it wasn't already running at least a couple of hours before. Those middle of the night calls we've got the pedal to the floor trying to shift the ****ing thing or anything to make the pig move faster. damn ford diesels take forever to heat up.
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Found a temporary way to get some heat into the interior. Minus 25C here this morning, and there would have been little heat output from the heater if I hadn't modified the air flow to the engine!!!
My passengers were pleased with the modification as you can see..
![Image]()
![Image]()
My passengers were pleased with the modification as you can see..
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Doesn't sound good. The only time I had the issues you speak of was when I owned a 1986 BMW 325. I couldn't shift it out of 1st until it warmed up and steering was noisy due to a bad power steering (pump?). Get it looked at, you're pat isn't from 1986!
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Any tips from you guys used to these cold spells (we only get them occasionally) on how to keep the windscreen clean . I have to keep stopping every few miles to wash my windscreen because my washer bottle has frozen up and all the salt from the road keeps messing up the glass. Is there something I can add to the water to stop it freezing.
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Surely you must have a winter version of Windshield/Windscreen washer fluid?? Halfords surely must have it as I recall from my previous life in the UK...
Try your local Automotive shop, and you should be able to find an additive to add to the fluid to stop it from freezing...
Here you go, Halfords have winter screen wash for 4 Pounds 99 for 5 liters...
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...01_catalogId_10151_productId_217418_categoryId_229902_langId_-1?cm_vc=IOV4PLPZ1
Don't know where you live in Cumbria (I have a friend in Grasmere, Cumbria ) so I used her Post Code for a search for Halford's...
UNIT 2, QUEEN KATHERINES AVENUE
KENDAL, CUMBRIA, LA9 6DU
T.01539 735001 14.25 miles Details & Map
2 Specialist Ripspeed area offering the complete range of performance styling products Halfords' fitting service on a wide range of products.
UNIT 2 ULLSWATER ROAD
PENRITH, CUMBRIA, CA11 7JQ
T.01768 892960 17.64 miles Details & Map
3 Specialist Ripspeed area offering the complete range of performance styling products Halfords' fitting service on a wide range of products.
DERWENT HOWE RETAIL PARK
WORKINGTON, CUMBRIA, CA14 3YW
T.01900 601635 25.05 miles Details & Map
4 Halfords' fitting service on a wide range of products.
HINDPOOL ROAD
BARROW IN FURNESS, CUMBRIA, LA14 2NE
T.01229 813300 25.36 miles Details & Map
5 Specialist Ripspeed area offering the complete range of performance styling products Halfords' fitting service on a wide range of products.
UNIT 2 BULK ROAD
LANCASTER, LANCASHIRE, LA1 1DT
T.01524 846889
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No problem...we have stuff here good to Minus 40C (or Minus 40F ) .....use a lot of it over our 6 months of flippin winter!!!!
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