car wont start when it's cold outside.. what should i do?

Question

I own a 2000 GMC ENVOY (Jimmy) has an extremely tough time starting when it's cold outside.. sometimes it wont at all.. we live in a city and it's parked on the street.. we did have a block heater installed but that didnt seem to help... we put a new battery in before the winter. For example, I'll get in the car and turn the key.. first time it'll usually turnover and start..but then it dies. I'll wait for a sec. and try again.. it wont turn over.. if I keep trying too long the battery will die.. sometimes when I'm lucky I'll time it right and apply gas as it starts.. and it'll keep running.. I usually keep my foot lightly on the gas to keep it from stalling. If I travel a short distance, turn off the car and try to start it again.. same problem.. wont start.. then at other times it'll start fine.. it's driving me crazy.. what should I do?

Answer 1

maybe the fuel pump is going bad and you are not getting the right pressure to keep it right or the battery needs checked. see if fuel injecter cleaner is exceptable to add for your make and model. Maybe carb needs cleaned? lots of reasons it can be acting up.

Answer 2

If you can drive a short while then not get it to start again i would get your Alternator and battery tested. As far as how cold it gets? It will play a part in how your car first runs.. I have a 2001 cavalier. I had it parked facing the wind at -49*c for 16 hours at night and it had a hard time turning over and plugging it in didn't seem to help either... Although with an aluminum block whatever heat it generated is easily lost. I'm going to try a better ext cord though... Mine was just a cheap thing.. I'll be checkin that out

Answer 3

A mechanic once told me "cold weather will tell on a car". Basically meaning that when it gets cold, any and everything wrong with a car will show up. I had similar issues with a car I use to have. One of the problems was the battery because it didn't have enough CCAs (cold cranking amps) to start the car, which basically means the battery isn't strong enough to start the car during really cold weather. Fix is easy--just buy a battery with appropriate CCAs for your car. (I know you said it is not the battery). Also I had other weird "non cranking" issues and found out it was something with the car's electrical system. Unfortunately my situation went from bad to worse and I ended up buying another car. Take your car in to get it check by a good mechanic. Save yourself the headache...sure wish I had. Good luck.

Answer 4

put some gas line anti freeze in it and have the battery tested , you should be able to hear a slight "crackling " when your block heater is plugged in . PS. it wont get cold enough to stop electron flow in a power cord

Answer 5

I worked at a Chevy dealer for many years, and drive dodge trucks because they start in any subzero weather, and I mean COLD! But if your chev is not starting at only 10 or 20 below zero, get it checked out, something is not right.

Answer 6

if it won't start with the block heater, then the block heater isn't working. but make sure the cord for it is insulated, and only as long as it needs to be, the cold air can stop power from getting through a cord. But from what you are saying i'd definitely suggest getting that looked at.

Answer 7

You just need a new battery. You say you did that before the winter started, but it's bad. Take it back where you bought it. They will put it on a tester and they'll know it's bad. They'll replace it for free.

Answer 8

Sounds like a bad fuel pump.

Answer 9

have to say I'm with tall boy on this one with the fuel pump

Answer 10

Very possible it is ignition module,do you have spark when it won't start?need more info.