Cold weather starting...

[doorgunner]

I voted & guessed right!!! Loo-z-anna don't be that cold....anytime!!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Sounds like you have more of a crappy battery problem than a cold starting problem...

+1

It may be a short in the starter too... whatever it is it isn't right.

The best way to get the OP's truck to start better IMO is to get a choke on it. After that a block heater would be nice too.

 

[CHKNFKR]

voltage doesn't really matter, it's amps that count. you need to have your batery load tested. I tend to do like daniel and get the biggest battery that i can squeeze in there just to make sure.

 

[daniel3507]

voltage doesn't really matter, it's amps that count. you need to have your batery load tested. I tend to do like daniel and get the biggest battery that i can squeeze in there just to make sure.

Definitely get it load tested LIKE CHKNFKR said. I used to see batteries come in all the time at work that were fully charged and failed a load test. Even our digital handheld tester thing passed some batteries that really weren't good. That's why we tested with the load tester too.

Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk

 

[CHKNFKR]

the best load testers i've found are the 30 year old toasters, that is if you can still find them. I have a few handy, you know, in case one breaks....

 

[509lifted]

gotta gofast yes it does it reads that cold or hot. and where could i get a load test done?

 

[CHKNFKR]

any reputable shop should be able to run a load test, even napa, oreilly, autozone, etc... should be able to run a load test.

 

[Hahnsb2]

My truck has a block heater, I've never used it but it rarely gets below 20º here. It would be nice for faster heat in the morning though, it's also prevents wear vs starting it stone cold.

its a napa battery and the battery is fine i have had it tested an it says it is fine when i hook my charger up it says 12.5-13 volts

Probably not enough CCA.

 

[dangerranger83]

I pump my truck twice and she fires right up everytime in the winter. I dont even use my manual choke anymore (that became my right foot), the high idle quit working one day and I got lazy and didnt want to fix it let alone want to know how to so I just hold her steady at 2000rom for about 2-3min and then drive her, as much as she like to cough, choke and sputter sometimes, running her in the lower gears seems to warm her right up.

I do agree with them, get your battery looked at.

 

[Mark_88]

OK...thanks for the input...my truck starts fine, even in cold weather...but it takes a few more cranks than I like...and I've managed to blow up two perfectly good mufflers by flooding it in the last year...the neighbors are concerned...lol

If I just tap the gas once and crank it is fine...I tried choking it the other day to see if it made any difference and "blam"...I took it up a notch...

My battery is a 2010 65 CCA and seems to crank it over fine...and the truck starts first crank every time when it's warm...even if it sits for a few hours after the morning start...

I do have a trickle charger now and was considering the other options...especially the warmer...my BIL swears by his and he lives way North of here where the morning temps are usually in the -20 to -35 range for months on end...

But interesting discussion about what is best...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

My battery is a 2010 65 CCA and seems to crank it over fine...and the truck starts first crank every time when it's warm...even if it sits for a few hours after the morning start...

Is that like a couple "D" batteries?






I forget if mine is 700cca or 750... whips the 302 right over. 650 or 625 should be fine for a four cylinder, that is what I ran on my 2.8 for years... and for as craptacular as it would run and stay running until it warmed up it was a very good load test for a battery in itself.

 

[Mark_88]

Is that like a couple "D" batteries?






I forget if mine is 700cca or 750... whips the 302 right over. 650 or 625 should be fine for a four cylinder, that is what I ran on my 2.8 for years... and for as craptacular as it would run and stay running until it warmed up it was a very good load test for a battery in itself.

Sorry, meant 650 CCA...

 

[Andy D]

OK...thanks for the input...my truck starts fine, even in cold weather...but it takes a few more cranks than I like...and I've managed to blow up two perfectly good mufflers by flooding it in the last year...the neighbors are concerned...lol

If I just tap the gas once and crank it is fine...I tried choking it the other day to see if it made any difference and "blam"...I took it up a notch...

My battery is a 2010 65 CCA and seems to crank it over fine...and the truck starts first crank every time when it's warm...even if it sits for a few hours after the morning start...

I do have a trickle charger now and was considering the other options...especially the warmer...my BIL swears by his and he lives way North of here where the morning temps are usually in the -20 to -35 range for months on end...

But interesting discussion about what is best...

If you are flooding the engine so badly that you are blowing up mufflers , then you have ignition troubles

 

[Mark_88]

If you are flooding the engine so badly that you are blowing up mufflers , then you have ignition troubles

Well, actually, it flooded out of my own stupidity...I choked it manually (using a wire clip to hold the butterfly closed) and pumped the gas...it didn't even bump so I tapped the gas again...and once more just in case...lol...

Then I opened the butterly and pumped it...yet again...and "Kablooey"...

Funny, it started on the next crank...it has new plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor and I tested the coil...everything works...it just doesn't like it when it's cold...but it DOES start...eventually...it takes a few cranks...and does not need gas...

I only thought it was a gas flow issue because I didin't see the vapor that usually comes out of the carb when I pump it (I stand over the carb and open the throttle manually to see if there is vapor then go back and crank it...

What I'm really trying to avoid is having to worry about draining the battery on really cold days...that's why I bought the trickle charger...just in case...but with a bit of input it appears that I may need to invest in either a battery warmer or an in-hose block heater...

I'm quite comfortable with cold weather starting (meaning sitting in my truck for five minutes till it warms up) but I do find driving for the first mile or so entails a few more sputters and pops...till it warms up (heater blows hot)...then it runs fine till the cows come home...

 

[GoodOld85BlueBalls]

I'm voting for diethyl ether. That stuff is pure gold when you can't get one started in cold weather. Just don't give it too much or you are going to be giving your engine some head.