Hard Starting - Cold Weather

[2o6]

We had a nice snowfall and cold temperatures, and I had a hard time starting my Focus this morning.



It had a crank that was getting progressively slower, and the lights started to dim. I think it's electrically related. Once the car was started, it ran normally.



Bad battery? I have a bad habit of leaving my iPod charger/FM transmitter in my cigarette lighter, but I don't think that would be that big of a drain on the battery, no?

[Secret Chimp]

That's called your battery is old and it's cold outside and old batteries don't like to work in the cold.

[2o6]

That's what I thought it was.

[hotrodalex]

Not necessarily a bad battery, just not a perfectly healthy battery.

[Rupert]

Not perfectly healthy = bad in cold weather.

[280Z Turbo]

I still have the factory battery in my Focus.

[MX793]

Doesn't even necessarily mean the battery's bad.  It could just have a really low CCA rating because the previous owner cheaped out when they replaced the battery (or the factory went cheap, as many do).  IIRC, the factory battery in my 3 was pretty low in the CCA department (I want to say it was only like 400 CCA, maybe less) and it never cranked strongly when temperatures got down to around 0 (or below).  If you live where it gets cold, I'd have a battery rated at at least 600 CCA.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Doesn't even necessarily mean the battery's bad.  It could just have a really low CCA rating because the previous owner cheaped out when they replaced the battery (or the factory went cheap, as many do).  IIRC, the factory battery in my 3 was pretty low in the CCA department (I want to say it was only like 400 CCA, maybe less) and it never cranked strongly when temperatures got down to around 0 (or below).  If you live where it gets cold, I'd have a battery rated at at least 600 CCA.

[hounddog]

Not necessarily a bad battery, just not a perfectly healthy battery.

Or, perfectly healthy battery not being properly charged by a not perfectly healthy alternator.

Could even be as simple as bad, read; corroded, connections.

[Byteme]

We had a nice snowfall and cold temperatures, and I had a hard time starting my Focus this morning.



It had a crank that was getting progressively slower, and the lights started to dim. I think it's electrically related. Once the car was started, it ran normally.



Bad battery? I have a bad habit of leaving my iPod charger/FM transmitter in my cigarette lighter, but I don't think that would be that big of a drain on the battery, no?

Those kind of things can drag a battery down from full charge and in cold weather you need all the cranking amps you can get.

[sparkplug]

You may need to drive more often or at least charge your battery. If the alternator or short is draining your battery don't let the battery die during the wintertime or you'll freeze the electrolyte and other chemicals and you could have a damaged cell. Especially if you live north of the Mason-Dixon line or whatever line it is. Anotherwords if you get a lot of snow or cold weather keep your battery charged.

[S204STi]

Sounds like catastrophic engine failure.  Sell your car and start cycling everywhere.

[2o6]

It's probably just a tired battery. It warmed up today, and the hard starting went away.

[Byteme]

It's probably just a tired battery. It warmed up today, and the hard starting went away.

Drive to Autozone and they will load test the battery for free, in hopes of selling you a new one.

[S204STi]

They won't load test it.  They'll put a chintzy electronic tester which checks CCA.  If the car has been driven a all it'll probably pass.  A proper shop with a VAT-40 (or newer) can actually load test it for you and find out if it can hold 9v under a constant load for more than 15 seconds.

[shp4man]

It's a 2000 Focus with the factory battery?  Replace it ASAP.

[S204STi]

That too. 

[hotrodalex]

They won't load test it.  They'll put a chintzy electronic tester which checks CCA.  If the car has been driven a all it'll probably pass.  A proper shop with a VAT-40 (or newer) can actually load test it for you and find out if it can hold 9v under a constant load for more than 15 seconds.

I went there for them to test the BMW's battery on Saturday. All the guy said was it was barely putting out any power, which I obviously knew considered I had to jump start it. He said it was the alternator, which again was probably not the problem. So basically no help and I wasn't sure if they would replace it at that point (it's still under warranty). I just left, though not before requiring a jump start.