I have a 95 chrysler concorde and the weather has been 20 below . My car wont start what can i do?

Question

Can it be a frozen fuel line? what do i do?

Answer 1

Several things to do to keep it warm and help it start easier.

Get a dipstick style oil heater that goes into your dipstick tube (unplug and remove it before starting and driving). This a cheap yet effective method.

Have a block heater installed at your local shop, these will either take the place of a freeze plug, or go inline with one of the coolant hoses. This will be a more expensive, yet very effective method.

Get a droplight *(not a flourescent one, but a regular screw-in bulb style) with a metal surround and put a 100 watt bulb (or as high as the lamp is rated for) and put it under the hood near the engine. (plastic surround will be rated for a lower wattage and will melt with a higher wattage bulb) This is less effective, but if you already have one laying around, is also the cheapest and it will help keep the engine compartment warmer than the outside air temperature.

If having to buy the drop light, the engine oil heater should be about the same price as the droplight.

Battery warmers are also available at many parts stores, but I always used the engine oil heater by itself and that worked great for me, and as an added bonus, you get heat a lot faster than without the heater.

Answer 2

How fast does the engine turn over? Any slower than usual? Do you have an original battery in it or is the second one more than 5 yrs.old. Do a volt test on your uncharged battery. If it's under 10.5 volts charge it over night. If your still getting 11 volts or less have your battery load tested at any auto parts store. To be sure, stick in a can of isopropyl alcohol (no substitutes). drain the oil out and try to find some 0 w30 regular engine oil or better yet 030 full synthetic oil Mobil 1 makes a 0w30. NAPA, Car Quest. National Auto and possibly Auto Zone. The Zone's prices are among the highest around when shopping for engine oil. If the car's inside or outside mount an inexpensive clamp on bulb reflector lamp from Lowe's or Home Depot as well as a heat lamp bulb. Plug it in laying as close to the foreword cylinder head. after at least a couple of hours your car should start. If not remove all spark plugs and check for a wet black condition. If that's what you see toss in a new set of plugs.

Answer 3

Try a new battery with a lot of cold cranking amps (at least 700 cold cranking amps). If that does or doesn't get it running, take it to a mechanic with a heated garage. Be sure you run a good oil like Valvoline MaxLife 5W-30 (it starts up easier than using 10W-30 and offers the same 'hot' protection). Use a good oil filter like an AC-Delco, Motorcraft, or Purolator (Fram sucks). Replace your fuel filter with the factory one (get it at a dealership). Use 2 bottles of "Heet" and then fill the tank up completely with gas and keep it filled during winter. Never let it get below half or the gas tank might 'sweat' and introduce water into the fuel. Lastly change your coolant. Your car came with the old green coolant. Zerex G-05 is a direct replacement for the old green stuff and is now used in all New Chryslers and Fords.

Answer 4

I would suggest an engine block heater that goes into the freeze plug of the engine block. Its the best design for engine heaters and they are about $35 plus installation, they just plug into an extension cord. My suggestion is to put the heater on a timer so it starts working 2-3 hours before you leave on your routine. This will give you warm air coming from the vents quickly and a warm engine that wont get damaged from the cold starts and it will start alot easier, too. Secondly, a heated battery blanket will boost your batteries energy level to start the car. A battery at 70 degrees versus 32 degrees has 30 % of its normal starting power. Just imagine how low it is at -10 degrees.

Answer 5

It could be a frozen feul line and probably is it beaing that cold i would put some kind of alcohol product in it at every fillup rubbing will work fine.But also use thinner oil perhaps 5w 30 you can also buy a heater that go on you block of your engine to keep it warm but you will have to change your fuill filter probably to get the ice out it water wont go thru it .

Answer 6

My Parents have a 93 concorde it wont start either in -20 common chrysler concorde problem

Answer 7

i own a repair shop,and its just the cold,its draining battery's really fast,and when it takes all the power to turn it over it often takes away from the ignition system,you can try using starting fluid on it this will make it hit faster and start better but the only way your going to beat the problem is keep it in a garage,or anything that will keep the cold air off of it,or at least knock some of it off, your not the only one right now,my shop is crammed with cars that don't want to start ,and the most of it right now is just the cold weather,good luck,i hope this help,s.

Answer 8

Fuel can't freeze at 20 below. I assume that when you turn the key it sounds like it's trying to start but can't. I know how frustrating that can be.
A few things to check or try:
Is the battery good(possibly buy one with more CCA, cold cranking amps)
What type of oil is in it(5W30 works better than 10W30 in cold)
The easiest fix it to put an "oil pan heater" on. they are magnetic and come on and off really easy, they keep your oil warm over night so that it's ready to start in the morning(usually $20)

Answer 9

like dodge man said I am also seeing lots of these the spark plugs are probably fuel soaked (flooded) depending on what pcm (powertrain control module)you have you might have a clear flood feature. try cranking the engine with the gas pedal pushed all the way to the floor this will shut off the fuel system while cranking and possibly start the eng

Answer 10

Think about getting a new battery and a block heater.