How is your car coping with the cold ?
Discussion
Not another winter tyres/4wd debate, been done to death as has how they cope with ice/snow on the road, thinking more about starting and how it feels on cleared roads.
My Saab starts pretty much the same (new battery in Sept) but does take a bit longer, the washers are frozen despite being pretty much 100 percent screenwash, there is some clonkiness from the front end that doesnt seem to be there when its warmer, the heater is epic. Noticed a few lines on the heated rear screen have died at the top, its running really well and seems to relish the cold temps. The doors open ok even in the worst of it, have had other cars that refuse to open at the first hint of frost, so I give it 7/10 for coping, marked down for not seeming to have heated nozzles on the washer jets.
Galaxy starts well but sounds like a bag of hammers, takes ages to warm up being diesel and being huge inside, quick clear screen at front is great, washers work whatever, drives the same regardless of temperature, 8/10 marked down for taking ages to warm up.
Its progress, remember my old Capri with its reluctance to start below about 5c, buggered heater, ice on the inside as well as the outside and useless wipers, oh and relaising what anti freeze was for when we had to put a new core plug in
My Saab starts pretty much the same (new battery in Sept) but does take a bit longer, the washers are frozen despite being pretty much 100 percent screenwash, there is some clonkiness from the front end that doesnt seem to be there when its warmer, the heater is epic. Noticed a few lines on the heated rear screen have died at the top, its running really well and seems to relish the cold temps. The doors open ok even in the worst of it, have had other cars that refuse to open at the first hint of frost, so I give it 7/10 for coping, marked down for not seeming to have heated nozzles on the washer jets.
Galaxy starts well but sounds like a bag of hammers, takes ages to warm up being diesel and being huge inside, quick clear screen at front is great, washers work whatever, drives the same regardless of temperature, 8/10 marked down for taking ages to warm up.
Its progress, remember my old Capri with its reluctance to start below about 5c, buggered heater, ice on the inside as well as the outside and useless wipers, oh and relaising what anti freeze was for when we had to put a new core plug in
With aplomb, basically.
Starting has never been an issue; the starter turns over twice, as usual, and the engine fires. The heater heats to a ludicrously warm degree, although I'd happily trade off some top end heat for it getting there a bit quicker. The aircon does a decent job of keeping the car demisted and the rear-screen heater isn't too bad. Washer jets work except when it gets towards -10.
ETA: Heated mirrors are ace.
ETA: 11-year-old 528i, by the way.
Starting has never been an issue; the starter turns over twice, as usual, and the engine fires. The heater heats to a ludicrously warm degree, although I'd happily trade off some top end heat for it getting there a bit quicker. The aircon does a decent job of keeping the car demisted and the rear-screen heater isn't too bad. Washer jets work except when it gets towards -10.
ETA: Heated mirrors are ace.
ETA: 11-year-old 528i, by the way.
Edited by CommanderJameson on Tuesday 7th December 13:18
The astra could be better.
It takes slightly longer to start (with a plume of diesel smoke) than it did before.
When it gets below -4 the screen wash freezes and blows the fuse (i get through 3 every winter).
In addition this year the handbrake keeps on getting stuck on the rear wheels (OS especially). This means i have to bang the disc with the end of a broom to get the caliper to stop gripping the disc or failing that throw warm water over it. There has been days where neither of these solutions works and i really have to get somewhere = the car dragging one or both rear wheels until they become un-stuck.
All of this is coupled with a 8mpg drop, from a 55 average to 47.
so overall 2/10, i much prefer it in summer
It takes slightly longer to start (with a plume of diesel smoke) than it did before.
When it gets below -4 the screen wash freezes and blows the fuse (i get through 3 every winter).
In addition this year the handbrake keeps on getting stuck on the rear wheels (OS especially). This means i have to bang the disc with the end of a broom to get the caliper to stop gripping the disc or failing that throw warm water over it. There has been days where neither of these solutions works and i really have to get somewhere = the car dragging one or both rear wheels until they become un-stuck.
All of this is coupled with a 8mpg drop, from a 55 average to 47.
so overall 2/10, i much prefer it in summer
Edited by kiethton on Tuesday 7th December 12:43
Not too badly. The washer jets are frozen in the mornings, and don't usually defrost in the 40 minutes it takes to drive to work, due in part to the engine being in the correct place. I've had to scrape ice off the inside of the windscreen though.
Engine runs fine, heater takes about 10 minutes before it's up to a good temperature.
6.5/10
Engine runs fine, heater takes about 10 minutes before it's up to a good temperature.
6.5/10
My Fiesta is doing OK, being a diesel it's the most I've ever seen the glow plugs have to come on momentarily before I start it up. Does take a couple of turns though to fire.
Biggest problem I've encountered was this morning when my rear passenger drum were frozen, I tried driving down the road a bit to release them but they were just skidding along the untreated roads. (ETA - I think it was likely the slush last night that got into my brakes, and being like that I wasn't hard on them, so it froze overnight)
So I walked back home to get a hammer to hit the drums a few times with - it worked.
Watching Ice Road Truckers is educational then!
Biggest problem I've encountered was this morning when my rear passenger drum were frozen, I tried driving down the road a bit to release them but they were just skidding along the untreated roads. (ETA - I think it was likely the slush last night that got into my brakes, and being like that I wasn't hard on them, so it froze overnight)
So I walked back home to get a hammer to hit the drums a few times with - it worked.
Watching Ice Road Truckers is educational then!
Edited by BMR on Tuesday 7th December 12:51
I thought my doors had frozen shut this morning, but I had locked it and only realised after I had climbed in via the boot. Oops. Then a door lock properly froze and would not shut. Fun.
My Galaxy runs on veg oil and you have to flip back to it to get diesel back in the pump before you shut down, or you are toast.
My Galaxy runs on veg oil and you have to flip back to it to get diesel back in the pump before you shut down, or you are toast.
The beemer is fine but my t/rusty old skoda pickups gearshift is frozen solid so I cant get any gears.
I presume there is a lump of ice hanging about in the linkage somewhere.
This means Im doing 70miles a day in the M5 at 20mpg.
This winter nonsense is bloody expensive.
Im going to attempt a defrost tonight on the skoda.
I presume there is a lump of ice hanging about in the linkage somewhere.
This means Im doing 70miles a day in the M5 at 20mpg.
This winter nonsense is bloody expensive.
Im going to attempt a defrost tonight on the skoda.
My Lexus is fine, apart from the washer nozzles freezing, which is bloody annoying. I'm off out at lunchtime to get another bottle to hopefully concentrate it a bit.
Other than that, the battery is 2 months old, heated seats, job done.
Missus' X3 is even better as it has mud and snow tyres fitted, nothing stops it.
Other than that, the battery is 2 months old, heated seats, job done.
Missus' X3 is even better as it has mud and snow tyres fitted, nothing stops it.
The washing machine has been great. No issues at all. Folding mirrors that are heated mean I dont need to do anything and the heating fires up quite quickly and starts to clear the screen quickly. Heated seats also help, though the steering wheel is a little cold - but that is being picky.
One thing though, the screen washer system seems to be really well engineered. Heated nozzles, pipes and the bottle is well placed - running an 80/20 mix and its fine and had no issues. Impressed as had other cars that were rubbish on 100% mix! Seems clear that there are other cars in a similar situation.
One thing though, the screen washer system seems to be really well engineered. Heated nozzles, pipes and the bottle is well placed - running an 80/20 mix and its fine and had no issues. Impressed as had other cars that were rubbish on 100% mix! Seems clear that there are other cars in a similar situation.
Takes an extra second to crank over after the glow plug light has gone out, than when it's warm.
But the doors open with no fuss, screen demists in very quick time, heated mirrors and rear screen are very fast, heated seats + climate control set to 24 = me being happy even in the very cold.
9/10, only lost a mark as it's a diesel and it deserves to lose one for that alone.
Anyone would think it had been designed and built in a Scandinavian country.
But the doors open with no fuss, screen demists in very quick time, heated mirrors and rear screen are very fast, heated seats + climate control set to 24 = me being happy even in the very cold.
9/10, only lost a mark as it's a diesel and it deserves to lose one for that alone.
Anyone would think it had been designed and built in a Scandinavian country.
Don't know yet, just about to find out. The Chim is all tucked up & I'm not going to disturb her sleep, but the Alfa has to be driven today, once I have got about an inch of frost off & towelled off inside the windows. I already know the heater is crap though so I am wrapped up to do an expedition rather than a car ride!!
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