They offer the engine warmer for cold climates. By their definition that's -20F. I didn't get it, and mine was garaged outside its first winter -- although it started in the -20s, it wasn't happy to do it. Its garaged now, but these aluminum engines cool off quickly, so if you park all day outside (like at work) it could be an issue. Fortunately daytime temps are usually warmer than that -- rare is the day in NH when it doesn't at least crawl above 0F. Park in the sun, facing west! If you work 3rd shift, you've got a problem.

 

I haven't noticed it being any worse than other vehicles I've had.

 

I do have a block heater as its standard fare on the North Edition but living in a condo I have nowhere to plug it in. I have Mobile 1 synthetic in it so hopefully the oil is getting to the top of the engine faster and thus reducing engine wear. Of course once it reaches operating temp its fine.

 

You better check your battery.

 

It has plenty of cranking juice it just sounds so rough sounding until the oil has had a chance to coat all the internals. It literally sounds like I'm driving a 6.0L diesel.

 

Interesting, SpaceJeep. We had 7 degrees this morning too, and my engine sounded perfectly fine. It sounded better than my wife's minivan and didn't sound a whole helluva lot different than the expensive car across the street.

 

i have had the same prob with mine from day one. i have even taken it in and they say its normal. dont think so...

 

Mine sounded like sht too on cold mornings. It use to practically slap me across the head for even asking it to start and warm up on mornings like that.
It was actually embarassing to listen too.
I had other vehicles before and this Japanese sedan after that doesn't even come close to sounding like that.

 

Overnight temps hit -14C (7F)

That is COLD...

I don't fault any vehicle for not wanting to start and sounding rough in those conditions...

If you are worried about engine wear in cold climates it is recommended to use the block heater, I don't think it is justified to call the vehicle a POS... it did start under less than ideal conditions.

So you are saying a much more expensive vehicle is going to happily fire right up and sound great under those conditions?

I don't think so.

I am so tired of people bashing a vehicle when all other vehicles behave the same way... you can't beat the laws of physics.

 

Mine has started fine, although not like in warmer temps, when we had temps 4-5 degrees below zero F, which is a bit colder than you have. Seems odd. Mine sits outside all night too.

How many miles on yours? Does it need plugs, or an oil change, and have you checked the anti-freeze?

 

Have had no problems in the cold,
single digits is common,
occassional negative temps when upstate,
and Pat has been fine,
me on the other hand am a different story,

 

We've been getting some cold temps here recently, down to -25C (about -13F). The Patriot has been starting just fine. It's in a garage. I have a block heater, but don't need to use it. Engine has 5W-20 synthetic. I'm impressed by the heater, and I love the heated seats. Good cold weather vehicle.

 

I've driven a Pontiac 6000(250k km), a Chev Malibu(200k km) and an Eagle Talon (Mitsu 320k km) and not one of them sounded this course especially in the first year when everything is nice and tight. We can candy coat this as much as we want but these cars are cheaply made with inferior components- right down to the tinniest sheet metal I've ever seen. I just loved the look so much I got hook, lined and sinkered!!! I've said this before and I'll say it again I would have easily paid a couple of grand more for this vehicle if it allowed Chrysler to build it the way a Jeep should be-solid like a rock!!

I have a co-worker with a 2010 Patriot as well and she complains of the same harshness at startup.-go figure!!!

 

I've driven a Pontiac 6000(250k km), a Chev Malibu(200k km) and an Eagle Talon (Mitsu 320k km) and not one of them sounded this course especially in the first year when everything is nice and tight. We can candy coat this as much as we want but these cars are cheaply made with inferior components- right down to the tinniest sheet metal I've ever seen. I just loved the look so much I got hook, lined and sinkered!!! I've said this before and I'll say it again I would have easily paid a couple of grand more for this vehicle if it allowed Chrysler to build it the way a Jeep should be-solid like a rock!!I have a co-worker with a 2010 Patriot as well and she complains of the same harshness at startup.-go figure!!!

Should have looked at the Liberty then
Part of the noise is it's a larger displacement 4cyl, and it has a plastic manifold, and there is very little sound proofing in the engine compartment. I don't think anything is getting damaged in there when it sounds like a diesel on cold starts. Oil is getting where it needs to be, that's not the problem, it just has to warm up to quiet down.
My 2.0L Cavalier was so quiet in the summer you couldn't even tell it was running, but in the winter, it definately made some racket until it warmed up.

 

As for the maintenance I baby this thing. Its only got 9k km on it and I've already changed the oil twice with the latest being synthetic. It gets the royal treatment right down to washing and waxing.

I just hope it can give me at least 200k km of somewhat trouble free driving.

 

07, 60k miles, 3 winters, 8 degrees this morning, parked outside, started fine, though I think my battery is getting a little weak.

 

Mine sits outside to, this morning was -10C and getting colder... it is certainly harsher sounding than normal, but I have driven Toyota's that have sounded a lot worse and been a lot harder to start

 

It has no problem starting Stew its just noisy at startup and slowly quiets down as it reaches operating temp. I think the main culprit here is how they have set the cold idle. My Talon used to rev at 2k+ rpm's for a good 2 minutes before the tach starting coming down to settle at 750 rpm on a warmed up engine. But because of the mandated fuel consumption targets the car manufacturers must adhere to they started fiddling around with the cold idle and now it starts to descend within seconds of startup to save fuel. So even though its at say 1k rpm the temp needle still hasn't moved when you drive away.

Any thoughts??

 

Ya know I think I may have noticed that once or twice when it was new, but now it idles fine. is your an auto? that may be difference as mine is a manual and seems to idle in the higher rpms a bit longer than you described. I have also used synthetic oil since the 3rd oil change. I don't know if all that makes any difference or not.

 

I have noticed full synthetic oil seems to help with smoother cranking in colder weather. I believe the synthetic is supposed to keep its viscosity better, and not thicken up as much in the cold as regular oil. Has anyone else experienced this?

 

Have you tried to start it and warm it up without the heater on? Should allow it to warm the engine faster, without losing heat through the heater coil. Once it warms up you can turn the heater on. Might help.

 

My fiance cracks me up with this! Shell get in the cold vehicle and turn the heat on full blast with the fan on high. I explained to her that all she's doing is making the engine take longer to warm up and sitting with cold air blowing in her face the whole time. Whereas I start mine in the morning, go smoke a cigarette(I dont smoke in the car) and drive to the end of my road before I turn the heat on, and guess what? Toasty warm We haven't gotten much weather below 20F yet here, so I cant speak on the 2011s feelings on cold weather, but i imagine they're not much different than my 08. That jeep did NOT like cold weather. But like most cars in really cold temps it sounded a little rough starting and then it was fine.

 

I haven't had any issues starting in single digit temps. It starts and idles just like every other car I've had

 

So its just noise? You're probably hearing the valves and everything else mechanical, till they're warmed up and lubed. Seems like you have good oil, but maybe a compatible additive will keep the oil where it needs to be.

 

was 15 F this morning here, mine started like a champ

 

We woke up to minus 12C on Tuesday morning this week but I didn't notice any problem starting. You would expect Europeans to have more trouble in winter than yous guys because we nearly all drive diesels, but I had none. I did have to wait about three seconds for the GloPlug light to go off (for those of you that aren't familiar with diesels, they have a little gadget at the top of each cylinder sort of like a sparkplug with no gap. It has a filament that heats up for a second or so , literally until it glows, and this helps the diesel-oil/air mixture to ignite), but I'd expect that under those temperatures.
I reckon you're getting a bit of "slap". Diesel drivers are used to this and it's not usually dangerous. What happens is that when temperatures are very low various metal parts contract a bit so that the set gaps between them are larger. This makes for more of a rattling noise until working temperatures are reached.
What you mustn't do is to check the gaps and re-set them narrower. If you do that, then when the engine reaches its working temperature, you might risk overheating or get timing issues.
You could try a different viscosity oil in winter if you live somewhere chilly. Most of the big lube oil manufacturers have helplines and can advise you if you ring them up.

Rocal

 

Get remote start. Then it will start up nice and quiet. You'll never hear that cold harshness

 

a few questions

1. are you sure they are using synthetic? Is it full synthetic or synthetic blend?
2. have you checked the oil, is it full?
3. what do the guages do when you start it?

9k km is not much, that engine is not even broken in yet!

Keep in mind that the 2.4L in the patriot is same as compass, caliber and avengers. I have not heard of any similar complaints.

- Dan M

 

Keep in mind that the 2.4L in the patriot is same as compass, caliber and avengers. I have not heard of any similar complaints.

The Compass rental I had for the past 3 weeks sounded on the rough side when it was cold, however to me it just sounded like a 4 cyl. starting in the cold. And it was a rental... so all bets are off on when the oil was last changed, etc.

 

I don't know maybe I've been spoiled with the better built cars of a couple of decades ago as this is my first NEW car since my 1992 Talon. It just seems this vehicle is noiser when cold than I'm accustomed to thats all. If you figure I paid $21k for the Talon in the winter of '91 & $25k for the Pat in '10 thats only a $4k increase in 20 years so theres definately been a lot of skimping going on.

 

Talon was one of the biggest pieces of crap ever to hit the road in North America!
I got my '08 for $16,900 (before tax), there was absolutely nothing even close to this price from competitors. I wanted a 4x4 compact SUV, with no bells and whistles, and I got it. Next closest in price was a Hyndai Tuscon starting at $25k, and that is a true piece of Korean crap. Worst driving pile of cheap junk I have ever been in.
Personally, I think all the extra features you can get in a vehicle drive the price up too much. Hell, even A/C is $1000 for a car.....I can get a 5000BTU window unit for my house for $70 and it will last 10 years! I would probably buy the next model up, in this case a Liberty base model if I was considering spending extra money for expensive features. I don't think you really get your money's worth on a loaded ride