Cold Weather Start

Taz · **Posted:** Wed Dec 07, 2005 8:00 am

It was six degrees F below zero at the house yesterday, Had the CRD plugged in, parked outside. When I started it, it seemed to start very quickly so I let off the on the key and then it killed. I turned it off and back on and it started and kept running, it was kind of rough but smoothed out very quickly. This same thind has happened twice and both times while plugged in. Prevously I had not plugged it in and started it as cold as 11 degrees F above zero, it cranked a lot longer beofere starting and ran rough for a lot longer after starting.

oldnavy · **Posted:** Wed Dec 07, 2005 10:01 am

Sounds like a good start, is their a question? Starts a lot easier when warmed up don't it dude

Taz · **Posted:** Thu Dec 08, 2005 8:15 am

Well originally it was just a statement, however after starting the CRD this morning I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this. It seems to start very quickly but then kills. It starts and keeps running on the second attempt. It has only happened when plugged in. It smooth out much faster than when not plugged in.

oldnavy · **Posted:** Thu Dec 08, 2005 9:13 am

Taz wrote:

Well originally it was just a statement, however after starting the CRD this morning I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this. It seems to start very quickly but then kills. It starts and keeps running on the second attempt. It has only happened when plugged in. It smooth out much faster than when not plugged in.

What you discribe is how it should be, but in reverse. I don't really see how it would be possiable, unless it could be that you are not having it on long enough and it is confusing the computer system. How long did you have it plugged in and what was outside temperature?

Guest · **Posted:** Thu Dec 08, 2005 9:48 am

Taz wrote:

Well originally it was just a statement, however after starting the CRD this morning I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this. It seems to start very quickly but then kills. It starts and keeps running on the second attempt. It has only happened when plugged in. It smooth out much faster than when not plugged in.

There is a TSB out to reprogram the ECM for people at higher elevations (5000 ft + MSL) that are having problems with cold starts or hard starts. Looks like it was just released. It may be determined in the future that everyone needs it. Once again, I am going to wait for symptoms before I get a TSB done. There are no dealers in my area that know what they are doing when it comes to the CRD. Sad fact is when I call them, they admit it.

18-038-05

http://www.alldata.com/tsb/Chrysler/113 ... index.html

Taz · **Posted:** Fri Dec 09, 2005 8:01 am

I have the heater on a timer that turns on about 2 hours before I start it. The mornings that I am referring to were 7 deg f below zero, 3 above, and 6 above. It started yesterday on the first try, it was plugged in and about 11 deg f above zero.

As far as the TSB, I am in Minnesota, not sure the altitude here, I will do some checking.

Thanks for the info.

retmil46 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 09, 2005 12:14 pm

With those outside temps, 2 hours just aren't going to do you any good. The sticker on the cord states that's only a 1000 watt heater, the equivalent of 5 or 6 good-sized light bulbs.

I'd try doubling the amount of time, go to 4 hours, and see what that does. I wouldn't be worried about burning out the heater or overheating the engine, most block heaters are designed to be plugged in all night as it is. If you're really concerned, call the service department at the dealer.

By way of example, I've plugged mine in here in NC when the temps were in the 40's for 4 hours. When I started the engine, the coolant temp gauge didn't even budge. But the engine reached full coolant temp in about half the time it would have if I hadn't had it plugged in.

From what I've seen, this block heater isn't designed to raise the engine to full operating temperature. More like it gets it to the point where it's the equivalent of starting it on a warm summer day.

Guest · **Posted:** Fri Dec 09, 2005 12:20 pm

retmil46 wrote:

With those outside temps, 2 hours just aren't going to do you any good. The sticker on the cord states that's only a 1000 watt heater, the equivalent of 5 or 6 good-sized light bulbs.

I'd try doubling the amount of time, go to 4 hours, and see what that does. I wouldn't be worried about burning out the heater or overheating the engine, most block heaters are designed to be plugged in all night as it is. If you're really concerned, call the service department at the dealer.

By way of example, I've plugged mine in here in NC when the temps were in the 40's for 4 hours. When I started the engine, the coolant temp gauge didn't even budge. But the engine reached full coolant temp in about half the time it would have if I hadn't had it plugged in.

From what I've seen, this block heater isn't designed to raise the engine to full operating temperature. More like it gets it to the point where it's the equivalent of starting it on a warm summer day.

Do we all have a coolant block heater, or an oil block heater? I don't know yet, but my father-in-law has a Ford Powerstroke Excursion and his is an oil block heater that actually heats and circulates the engine oil throughout the block. So his coolant is initially still cool.

If ours is 1000watt that is more in line with an oil heater...

retmil46 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 10, 2005 12:52 am

It's a coolant heater. If you leave it plugged in for a few hours and then go out and feel the upper radiator hose it's warm.

crdawg · **Joined:** Mon Sep 12, 2005 10:55 pm **Posts:** 98

Didn't somebody buy one from the dealership,it was a curved electrode that mounted in one of the the freezeplug location on the block and warmed the water jacket.

oldnavy · **Posted:** Sun Dec 11, 2005 10:54 am

Must have been someone with a gasser as they plug is standard on the CRD or it was someone who had one fail on a CRD.

Cold Weather Start

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