Any advice for starting from frozen?

[skellyjohn]

My car's not moved since before Xmas. Its still got a few inches of snow on it. I can see the alarm light still flashing but not sure how the battery will be. My road's not been treated so I'm not going anywhere but is it worth trying to turn it over and leave it running or do I just sit tight until the thaw comes? The ice age looks like its going to last another couple of weeks.

[Lazydonkey]

I'm in the same boat (as is Kenny) although my alarm light is no longer flashing

As i can hardly stand in my street just now i've taken the decsion to leave it where it is until the thaw comes as i wont be able to give it a long enough run to get the battery properly charged

[robin]

Disconnect the battery while you still can. The car won't care how much longer it stands in the frozen weather, as it's frozen already IYSWIM.

You need to disarm the alarm before disconnecting the battery.

If you decide to start it instead, just check that the coolant in the expansion tank isn't frozen before you try ... it shouldn't be, but it depends on how good your anti-freeze is.

Also, allow it to warm up on a slow idle - don't rev it up - the oil will be turgid

Cheers,
Robin

[Dominic]

If you are starting it, depress the clutch (makes life a little easier for the battery).

Once running, make sure the wipers are not frozen to the windscreen before trying them - may sound obvious, but my mate who runs a garage is getting a lot of cars in with broken wiper parts.

[Tom]

Same story here. I started mine last week (and it started on it's own ) and let it idle for about an hour. Used the spare key to lock the car whilst doing so. Didn't think to check for frozen header tank though - will know for next time. Mine has about nine inches of snow on it since then.
Was surprised to find that even though I have a shower cap over the car that there was drips of condensation over the inside of the roof/windscreen and the drivers side carpet was soaked. Pulled the carpet out and mopped up the inside, and the left the windows ajar with the fan/heat on high to dry it out. Worked a treat. Haven't looked inside since then .

Bloody weather..

[kenny]

Battery is flat on mine, still powering everything just not enough to start the car. Car now frozen again and cant get into it, will just have to wait for a break in the weather.

[Tom]

Ok it's maybe not nine inches (was measuring on the engine cover ) but inches are a fairly flexible unit of measurement anyway...

[kenny]

Question: Battery is still flat, the alarm is not armed. Is there any way the alarm could go off by itself?

An alarm went off last night that sounded a lot like mine but the alarm isnt on, went off before I had time to see whose car it was.

[Lazydonkey]

Don't see how it could?

Although mine went off when we jumped it. Now i just need to find a ginger accountant with a spare garage and i can leave my car there for a few days on a trickle charge...............

[kenny]

Car wont jump start and there is no spark when I connect the jump leads. New battery time?

[RDH]

Car wont jump start and there is no spark when I connect the jump leads. New battery time?

I've got a battery charger if you want to borrow it - to see if you can revive it?

[kenny]

Cheers Rob already taken the battery out as my dad has a charger. Loving this weather.

[mac]

Cheers Rob already taken the battery out as my dad has a charger. Loving this weather.

You could try some BatAid tablets Kenny - might just save you a new battery this year (but probably not next)