My truck won’t start due to super cold weather,

Discussion in 'Questions To Truckers From The General Public' started by United Trucking, Feb 15, 2021.

  1. United Trucking

    United Trucking Bobtail Member

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    Feb 15, 2021
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    I parked here in Denver CO for almost 12 hours now. It doesn’t crank fast sounds like low battery voltage. Batteries are 8 months old. Any advice please?
     
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  3. JoeTruck

    JoeTruck Heavy Load Member

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    Even new batteries loose voltage/amps in the very cold, try a jump but oil gets pretty thick in the very cold.
    I never shut it off below 20 unless at the yard.
     
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  4. bryan21384

    bryan21384 Road Train Member

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    If you choose to shut it off, you gotta get up every so often and crank it back on in those temps. It got below 0 in Denver this past weekend, if I am not mistaken,so that can be a recipe for disaster. If it ain't a battery issue, and you're at the truck stop, you can buy that emergency start up additive or whatever it is in the red bottle I think. Otherwise you'll have to call someone out there.
     
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  5. Brandt

    Brandt Road Train Member

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    If the batteries were weak before the cold will even harder to start. Don't let them get below 12.1 volts also because that like taking 70% or something of their power away. If in truck watching TV or have bunk heater going. You need to recharge the batteries before 12.1volts in general. Plus all that cold thick engine oil is hard to turn at cold temps. My truck has Detroit Diesel optimize Idle system. It will start engine to recharge batteries at 12.1 volts or to keep engine oil like 50F.

    If your fuel gel because it really cold like 15F or colder then you have bigger problem. Have to see if the red bottle anti gel can throw out diesel or something.
     
  6. Cowboyrich

    Cowboyrich Road Train Member

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    12.1 volts the batteries are for part dead. I would idled but I don't know your company rules, and a side note if on the side of the road, restarea what have you I won't shut down any engine when it gets cold out.
     
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  7. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    12.4 volts is considered 75% charged if you can believe it.
     
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  8. bad-luck

    bad-luck Road Train Member

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    There are some tricks to starting it when it gets really cold. Most trucks have a bit of difficulty starting when the temperature is below 10 degrees, and it gets more difficult when the temps are close to zero or below if the truck is not plugged in.
     
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  9. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    I live where it routinely hits -35 in winter. Stuff not starting is a routine thing in these parts lol.
     
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  10. jamespmack

    jamespmack Road Train Member

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    IF I recall 11.8 volts a DDEC dont even power up. Low voltage is trouble some on electronics.
     
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  11. 86scotty

    86scotty Road Train Member

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    Threads like this blow my mind. It shows you what we're dealing with out here with some drivers. Sorry OP, if you don't know that when your truck won't start that you need a jump then you really shouldn't be driving one.

    How many weeks do people sit around freezing in a truck before they post stuff like this......instead of calling road service.
     
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