The Cold War, and car troubles

[Talon]

So here in Toronto we've been in the grip of a very nasty cold snap. This morning it was -25C, windchill -40. I haven't experienced cold this bad in years.

I had a feeling my car would be a problem in the morning, so I made sure to run the fan for a minute before hitting the ignition. Almost got it started the first time, then forget it. After a half hour of trying I gave up. Hope I didn't kill the battery. Given that it was 7am on a Sunday I had zero chance of bumming a boost off of someone, so bussing to work it was.

Having experienced this level of cold before, strangely -40 actually feels better than -30... for a little while. Then my fingers started to burn. My 20-minute commute felt a hell of a lot longer. Great way to start the morning.

For bonus points: I was on a 12-hour shift today, and tomorrow's a holiday. If I had any plans to pick up a battery charger, or jumper cables, nope, not happening till Tuesday. Tomorrow is hardly better as far as the cold, so not very confident my car will start, so more ice-box-bussing.

At least on Tuesday we're expected to warm up, a break in the Cold War as my brother puts it.

So, how was everyone else's day?

[Trixie]

Totally feel ya on the car trouble. When I came home from work today and there was steam coming from under the hood. Hopefully, it's nothing big but with my luck with this stupid car I doubt it. Good thing I got my tax refund. It's not really worth it to repair but I can't afford to replace the damn thing either. Enough of my pity party.

[Seanette]

Totally feel ya on the car trouble. When I came home from work today and there was steam coming from under the hood. Hopefully, it's nothing big but with my luck with this stupid car I doubt it. Good thing I got my tax refund. It's not really worth it to repair but I can't afford to replace the damn thing either. Enough of my pity party.

How do cars and such ALWAYS know when a windfall is coming in and pick then to have expensive problems?

[Kittish]

It's one of life's many Murphy Mechanisms.

[mathnerd]

How do cars and such ALWAYS know when a windfall is coming in and pick then to have expensive problems?

This one got me too. I had a rather massive credit on my cell phone bill from having switched carriers not to long ago, so of course I got hit with a double whammy that will take away any chance I had of finally getting a little ahead financially. One of the issues, was, of course, a major car repair.

[Trixie]

I guess the minor bright spot for me is that I haven't had the chance to spend my refund yet and still have the money. I was going to use some of it today to get caught up on some things. But ya know other things get in the way.

[Talon]

So after 2 days of failed starts, my car suddenly came back to life. Didn't even need a boost. I guess it was rein"car"nated

Not prepared to declare victory against winter yet though. Once I got the car working again, I made sure to park with the front facing the sunrise. I think that helped. But last week I was 9-5, tomorrow I'm on the 7am-3pm shift. No sun at 7am.

Just picked up some jumper cables and a car charger. Hope I won't need it tomorrow morning.

*Fingers crossed*

[lordlundar]

Something I'm not noticing is whether or not you're plugging in your block heater. At temperatures that low you really should be doing so and unless you bought your car in the states I know you have one.

[wolfie]

unless you bought your car in the states I know you have one.

My current car (bought used) was originally sold in Canada. My previous car I bought new in Canada. The last 3 cars my father owned, and the last 5 my mother owned, were all bought new in Canada. None of them had block heaters.

My truck has a block heater, as do all the company trucks, but none get plugged in - there are no outlets in the bobtail parking area of the company yard.

[It's me]

My car put up a protest this morning. Battery is 7+ years old.... time for a new one, me-thinks.

Our cat isn't too pleased with this weather either. He likes to sit on the porch in the nice weather. Most days in the winter he insists on the door being opened, upon which he decides it is too cold for his liking, he grumbles and turns tail. Today: he hissed and ran

[dalesys]

... it is too cold for his liking, he grumbles and turns tail. Today: he hissed and ran

Is his name Petronius Arbiter?
[/DoorIntoSummer]

[It's me]

Is his name Petronius Arbiter?
[/DoorIntoSummer]

It must be 25 years since I last read that book. Classic Heinlein! As for my cat.... he gets called a lot of things, mostly related to his ability to be exactly in the way of whatever I happen to be trying to accomplish at any given time.

And... I went to Costco on the way home and got a new battery. So hopefully tomorrow my car will spring to life rather than grousing like a teenager being told it's time to get out bed.

[Talon]

Something I'm not noticing is whether or not you're plugging in your block heater. At temperatures that low you really should be doing so and unless you bought your car in the states I know you have one.

Nope my car isn't equipped with a block heater. Even if it was, no outlets available to plug into. Not surprising, this kind of cold is quite unusual for Toronto.

Fortunately I didn't have any trouble starting up this morning. And it's warming up this week. Think I'm in the clear, unless of course temperature hits -40 again. *Shudders*

[lordlundar]

Hmm odd, I could have sworn I read somewhere block heaters were a legal requirement in Canada. Must be a regional thing then.

Wouldn't be a bad idea to get one installed and when the temp is predicted to dip that low to plug it in. The money spent on it is easily recouped in repair costs. True temps that cold aren't the usual thing but as we've seen over the past few years "normal weather" is anything but.

[NecessaryCatharsis]

Every car I've bought (all in Canada) had a block heater in it. What most didn't have was a readily accessible plug. Some digging through the manual and engine would find me the place to put the extension cord.