cold weather
- Thread starter sharpy
- Start date
Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.
kj924
Administrator
Yeah, mine starts no problem in the cold -35 degrees Celcius with the factory battery.
Jeepin05
Full Access Member
Last Winter, we hit -10 to -15 quite a bit and the KJ started well on the OEM battery for me. I think in the peak of last winter, we hit -30 here in Iowa and the KJ didn't leave me stranded.
From recent posts, I believe OEM is 600cca, so I think with a new 730, you should be good to go.
From recent posts, I believe OEM is 600cca, so I think with a new 730, you should be good to go.
sleeve
Full Access Member
It really depends on how cold it gets in your location and what kind of preperation (storage / heating) you have for the KJ.
I can cold start my KJ in temperatures down to -10F when it's parked outside overnight. But, any temperature below that and the KJ starts to get very unhappy because I don't have a block heater. However, if I did have a block heater, like the guys north of me than I wouldn't have any problems starting the KJ in brutally cold weather.
I can cold start my KJ in temperatures down to -10F when it's parked outside overnight. But, any temperature below that and the KJ starts to get very unhappy because I don't have a block heater. However, if I did have a block heater, like the guys north of me than I wouldn't have any problems starting the KJ in brutally cold weather.
kj924
Administrator
I never plug my block heater in.
sleeve
Full Access Member
Parked inside or out? [I park outside]
Mine will start right up even if I leave it outside.
The only thing I can think of if it gets really bitter cold and it is not plugged in, is to turn the key to the "on" position for 2 or 3 seconds before starting. You will hear the fuel pump power up and pressurize the fuel system. Then start it. Might make it start faster.
You should be fine though.
Dave
The only thing I can think of if it gets really bitter cold and it is not plugged in, is to turn the key to the "on" position for 2 or 3 seconds before starting. You will hear the fuel pump power up and pressurize the fuel system. Then start it. Might make it start faster.
You should be fine though.
Dave
What is this "cold" we speak of???
Mine's never seen less than 30 degrees....sad2.gif
Mine's never seen less than 30 degrees....sad2.gif
kb0nly
Full Access Member
What is this "cold" we speak of???
Mine's never seen less than 30 degrees....sad2.gif
Your lucky then!!
This past winter here we had days where the AIR TEMP was -20F, and wind chills were -30 to -40. The Pontiac Montana we had did have a block heater and it was plugged in, well it started every morning but one, turns out snow under the hood melted and left everything wet and the starter had water in it somehow and froze up. A few whacks with a rubber mallet and a jump start got it going, that morning was -46F wind chill!! The same morning the wife's PT Cruiser cranked sloooowwww but fired off, no block heater and no garage here so they sit outside. And that 2.4L seems to warm up pretty fast, its also a 5 speed so no worries about trans warm up.
I plan on adding a block heater before winter if i can to the KJ, but it wouldn't be the first winter i have gone through without one. Just have to plan on a little more warmup time in the morning. The only worry i have when it gets that cold is the oil. I could grab a magnetic heater and stick it on the oil pan, to me thats better than just warming the coolant a bit because the oil pan is still down in the cold.
kb0nly
Full Access Member
I tell ya, there is some times i wish i didn't live this far north, but then we get one of those nice winter days thats not too cold and plenty of snow to play in, and its just worth it!
Two weeks and we venture even farther north with the KJ. Going to visit family in northern MN and WI, and even a short trip into Canada and back.
Next spring I'll be able to give you a better answer, where I live -40 for at least a couple of weeks is normal, and where I meet my carpool there is no plugin. My powerstroke is stubborn at these temps so I'll be using the KJ on those days..
Ry' N Jen
Banned
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2006
- Messages
- 9,242
- Reaction score
- 13
Your "Powerstroke"?
As in A Ford Powerstroke Diesel?
I find that very very hard to believe!headscratch.gif
I operated a Ford with a Powerstroke Diesel in Northern Alberta, Canada at
-54 degree Celsius = -65.2 degree Fahrenheit (that was without windchill I might add for 70 plus days!, along with about another 150 F350's, 75 F250's and 135 F450's on the oil rigs! Never plugged in the block heater once! We didn't have anything to plug into for that matter!)without any problems what so ever!
And yes, we did shut off our Rig when not in use!
Must be a Canadian thing...
last winter we had 2 record cold temps -45f and -51f thats out of the ordinary but its not un common to to hit -35f up here. i hate to think obout winter anyhoo i looked around and dont see a heater plug on my jeep.
where would it b if it had a factory one? thanks
anyhoo i looked around and dont see a heater plug on my jeep.where would it b if it had a factory one?
thanks
Bikeflyer
Full Access Member
I had a 1000 cca battery in my S10(4.3l) because I tend to jumpstart stuff a lot. When I saw the cute little stock one I was kinda worried too. Good to hear theres no prob. I see so many undersized batteries at work all day at the auto auction. Mainly hondas and toyotas. My yard tractor has a bigger battery than an Accord!
Did that Powerstroke that was stubborn have functional glow plugs? A lot of people don't give them the attention they need, both in maintenance and in use.
Did that Powerstroke that was stubborn have functional glow plugs? A lot of people don't give them the attention they need, both in maintenance and in use.
Ry' N Jen
Banned
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2006
- Messages
- 9,242
- Reaction score
- 13
last winter we had 2 record cold temps -45f and -51f thats out of the ordinary but its not un common to to hit -35f up here. i hate to think obout winter
where would it b if it had a factory one?
Check the passenger side of the engine compartment. Look for a typical 110/115 volt Black Extension cord with grounded plug and cover. It would be zap strapped up and out of the way.
Yeah, they'll start at those temps, but they're not happy about it. Plus, with mine nudging the 500,000 km mark and still original glow plugs, of which only about 1/2 work, it's more stubborn than usual. My to-do list before the weather turns south ( a couple of more months) is to pull the VC's and replace them all..
Ry' N Jen
Banned
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2006
- Messages
- 9,242
- Reaction score
- 13
Last edited:
al7fi
Full Access Member
My 03 LE came with a factory block heater (normal for all new cars in AK). We plug in below +20F primarily to help with air pollution to keep the feds off our back. The plus side is that the rig warms up much quicker and takes a lot of strain off the battery. I got mine in Jan 03 and it now has 108K+ miles on it. Still the original battery and she starts fine even when not plugged in. We do not get the severe cold that Fairbanks gets here in the Anchorage area, but - F temps are not uncommon and at times the high is a -F temp. Mine has sat at 15-20 below for 3 days while I was in the backcountry on a snow machine. It got up to -16F the day I got back to the Liberty and she did start, but was not real enthusiastic about it. Nice thing was after riding back 30 miles at 15 below, she felt real good once the machine was loaded and I got inside. Life can be hard in the Greatland!
