I have a 1994 minivan and its cold out and wont start. I just put a new battery in it. What can I do?

Question

I had it towed to the shop and they put a brand new battery in it yesterday. It started fine for them and also for me this morning when it was -16 F. outside. Now I just went outside to start it and it will act like it wants to turn over but its just not firing. I dont get it. Please help!!

Answer 1

you might need to get a battery warmer or engine warmer, i'm not too familiar with those but have heard of one of those

Answer 2

The key distinction you must make is between a cranking problem and a starting problem. To check whether your engine is cranking normally with your new battery installed, you need to measure the voltage across the battery terminals while your cranking the engine. The voltage has to be 9 Volts DC or greater to properly power your computer, ignition, fuel pump and other electrical loads necessary to start the car. Everyone should purchase a Digital Multi-Meter at Sears, Walmart or an auto store so that they can verify that their battery is fully charged and able to crank the engine properly. A fully charged battery should measure at least 12.5 Volts DC. The alternator charging voltage at a fast idle should be about 14 Volts DC. Once the engine is cranking over properly, you can begin troubleshooting why the engine won't "start" (run).

Answer 3

If the car is parked outside you should plug it in if possible. If not, start the car every 4-5 hours and let it run for about 10 minutes each time. That way it won't get too cold. That is what I had to do.

Answer 4

try the distributor cap, those usually get wet when it's cold and then screw everything up, not pricey of a fix either :)

Answer 5

sound,s like fuel icing..........to be sure......spray a little either in your intake.....then crank......if nothing...you may have lost your ignition.....if it tries to start .......check for icing,fuel filter,fuel pump.