Hey guys,

Today as you know it is -15 degrees outside (that's what it said on my dash), I'm assuming it's a lot more with the windshield. So, when I started my car, it revved to 4000rpm at first! And then immediately it dove down to 2000rpm, then back to almost 3000rpm and then back 2000rpm (all in about two seconds), and from then on, it collectively started to warm up and drop down to about 1500rpm and I started driving just after it dropped below 1500rpm.

Then, within 5 min. of driving, I tried the electrical controls, such as pressing the defrost button on and off, and I got no "beep" sound as I pressed any button on my console! I then tried the radio and CD changer, but no sound came, even though the display was showing (it was changing very slow cuz it was cold).

So after about 10 min. into driving, everything slowly started working, the "beep" sound came back when I was pressing buttons on the console, which was a good sign, and then the radio and CD changer started working almost immediately after, and then everything was back to normal.

Is this normal for you guys on a very cold day such as today? Do you guys experience this as well, as in:

1) Should the engine rev that high to almost 4K, even for a split second on initial start (as yesterday it only revved to like 2.5K on initial start for a split-second)?

2) Should the electrical components not function during such cold days till the car warms up?

Thanks for your help guys and God Bless you all.

Ben.

 

The high idle is normal in very cold weather.
But the electronics thing is Weird.
Do you park outside? My car has never acted that way but I keep mine inside.

 

Nope, I park outside on the driveway. This is the very first time it happened, because today has been the coldest day since I've owned it. Does anyone else have this issue?

 

Try searching around before you post...several threads have been started on this and another new one with the exact same issue (at least the high revs part) has been created after you posted this one

 

Thx....will do next time. About the electrical components not working initially, I would appreciate any help given. Thanks again.

 

sorry can't help you out there...I have the beep off all the time....

 

Wait till its -32 and you start it...
Then you will be scared of all the noises/revving/lack of noises..

I wouldnt worry about the beep. Its such a soft noise anyway, and as you said things were moving slowly due to the cold. Wasnt warm enough yet. If it does it in nice weather then worry.

 

I had mine parked outside last night and it read minus 20 this morning when I started it.
It did the usual high/low revving pattern as always when its really cold but it always settles down once it is warmed up.

My display was slow to change numbers when listening to a CD but otherwise everything else was fine.

Once your car is at normal operating temperature everything should work fine so don't sweat it.

 

So, it looks like it's operating pretty normal, however, did your CD player ever stop playing the sound, meaning for me, the radio and CD was on when it was really cold, and the display came on, but I had no sound. However, when it warmed up, the sound came back.

 

^^ you're not supposed to play CD's cold.. they wont work sometimes if that happens. (like new TV's computer equipment etc.. warm up to room temp before using )
Anyway, what I do when its -15 to -35 is warm up the speakers and stereo with the radio on very low (like 2). When the car is starting to heat the interior a little, turn on the CD.

Like we've all said, its cold, things dont work so well when cold (including us) but rest assured, the car is more than likely fine. I consider it a miracle each and every time it fires up when its below -20.. the one day with the windchill last year it was -47, it was outside for 12hrs, and fired first try... when I was so damn cold I could barely open the door and get in.

If you're going to worry, worry about the engine lol!