RJS5689 Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Now that it's getting cold out, I've started noticing how the Subaru behaves differently in the cold. I know all cars are affected by the cold, but I don't remember my last car being like this. It cranks pretty funny in the cold (below 20) but I've read that from many people on the board, so I'm going with it's normal (it hasn't caused any problems yet.) My last car was a manual, and I don’t remember fighting the gearbox like I do in this car in the cold. A lot of times it fights me trying to get into 1st or reverse. Once I'm in gear, the action is very vague and rubbery, and the clutch is just a slow moving pile of mush. Today was the worst I have seen it. It was about -10 when I started my car; it started up with this loud whine, almost sounding like a belt, but is disappeared within a few seconds. The engine sound when cold is well, different, more pronounced you could say, I guess. The power steering seemed like it was affected also, turning the wheel required more effort than normal, the clutch was all rubbery and the gearshift was fighting me for reverse. Obviously these issues go away once the vehicle is warm, but do you guys experience these same symptoms when it's this cold out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rao Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 That is all typical - stop worrying Rob IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR CAR YOU SHOULD NEVER DRIVE IT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJS5689 Posted January 16, 2009 Author Share Posted January 16, 2009 That is all typical - stop worrying Haha good, I figured! But man does she sound mad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
el5y Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Yeah its just cuz its cold My old car is WAY worse in the cold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welby Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 You try sitting out in sub-0 temps all night and see what you sound like in the morning Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingray1967 Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 My car does the same thing. -25 here today in MN. (air temp) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spartan Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Mine does the exact same thing. It was -10F here today, shifting for about 10 minutes was pretty tough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Sinister Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 I've found that double-clutching while the tranny is still cold works best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLegacy99 Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 All 3 Subarus Ive had did not enjoy cold starts. Kinda like how Toyota's 4 speed auto doesnt shift in the cold. All cars have quirks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
987687 Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 My car does pretty well in the cold. Only gear I have trouble with is reverse. Usually pushing the clutch in and out helps reverse engage. Or just parking so I don't have to reverse My power steering doesn't work at all when it is cold though. Today it was -22°, and the power steering started working about 10 minutes into my drive. (and I let it warm up for 10 mins before I left). Overall I'm surprised at how well my little old suby does in the cold. Having a cable to the clutch, not a hydraulic setup like the new cars, it probably works better in the cold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinlsb Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 That is all typical - stop worrying :lol: You have to warm me up too before I purrr;) "Belief does not make truth. Evidence makes truth. And belief does not make evidence." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mortasaurus Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 My car does the exact same whine when it starts. It doesn't really sound like a belt and yesterday when it was -15 in MN I started it up and it actually did that whine for about 30 seconds so I shut it off and started it again and it took like 6 cranks to get it started. And yes, reverse and first are definately a B@#$% to get into even when I let it warm up for 10-15 minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eblues70 Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Car started fine, after warm-up the gearbox is still sluggish, but gets better. 5 degrees here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ean611 Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 I definetly notice my fuel consumption plummets when it's cold like this (8F this AM when I started the car near Boston MA). 18MPG isn't fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcsquish Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 18mpg!?!?! I don't get that in the summer...... (except on the interstate) I have found that not much on my car likes the cold.... suspension verrry stiff, trans bushing rock hard, EAT doesn't like to shift, brakes need a little warming to work well. But, NO HEAT SOAK!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoozeRS05 Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 0 degrees at startup today & she was not happy about it.. My windsheild washer sprayers are frozen so I can't see either.. Double clutching really helps getting into gear.. EB's Subaru journal - 2005 LegacyGT Wagon & 2014 Forester FB25 (2008 specB - RIP) IG@legacygtliving Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 ^ Broken? or wake up the dead? The Crimson Dynamo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Sinister Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 I am looking forward to hear my built engine with forged pistons will sound in weather like this.... people say forged pistons can wake up dead. Dead what? Bunnies that were run over by RE92s? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 ^ Broken? or wake up the dead? teh dead... teh damn article... the... never was my strong part Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJS5689 Posted January 16, 2009 Author Share Posted January 16, 2009 teh dead... teh damn article... the... never was my strong part Those silly articles, what unimportant parts of speech! Haha, I'd be interested in hearing it also. I remember my last car was catless with no resonators, she would wake people up. I'd love to hear Subaru with straight pipes at startup. The boxer sound is distinct;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinlsb Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 I am looking forward to hear my built engine with forged pistons will sound in weather like this.... people say forged pistons can wake up dead. Urban legend. What wakes up the dead, and you! is when you start up a race motor that is dry!!!!! Hell, my NSU IMSA motor took 20 minutes to warm up. The Cosworth on my F2 was warmed up quicker, but you have no idea how many race motors blow when they are cold.:lol: What do you expect? Piston slap????;) "Belief does not make truth. Evidence makes truth. And belief does not make evidence." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madjik_Man Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Now that it's getting cold out, I've started noticing how the Subaru behaves differently in the cold. I know all cars are affected by the cold, but I don't remember my last car being like this. It cranks pretty funny in the cold (below 20) but I've read that from many people on the board, so I'm going with it's normal (it hasn't caused any problems yet.) My last car was a manual, and I don’t remember fighting the gearbox like I do in this car in the cold. A lot of times it fights me trying to get into 1st or reverse. Once I'm in gear, the action is very vague and rubbery, and the clutch is just a slow moving pile of mush. Today was the worst I have seen it. It was about -10 when I started my car; it started up with this loud whine, almost sounding like a belt, but is disappeared within a few seconds. The engine sound when cold is well, different, more pronounced you could say, I guess. The power steering seemed like it was affected also, turning the wheel required more effort than normal, the clutch was all rubbery and the gearshift was fighting me for reverse. Obviously these issues go away once the vehicle is warm, but do you guys experience these same symptoms when it's this cold out? sounds perfectly normal the other week when it was 0 to -5 here, my car sounded like my grandfather trying to get up from the recliner after falling asleep in it for 3 hours when I started it up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tito_b0y Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 My windsheild washer sprayers are frozen so I can't see either.. Same here, except I thought I just ran out of wiper fluid and when I pulled the dipstick out, there was ice on it. The whole wiper fluid reservoir is frozen! 2006 SWP 3.0R 5EAT VDC BBQ 2008 OBP 2.5i 4EAT BBQ [RIP] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lafta Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 So can we add a plug in to heat up the engine block? Anyone do this to our rides, here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gmoe Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 18mpg!?!?! I don't get that in the summer...... (except on the interstate) Something is wrong with your car, or you drive like a lunatic. 18 is the absolute worst mileage I've ever gotten, any season. any type of driving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.