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Cold Temperature Starting Problem

Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 12:55 pm
by MonkeyMike
had my first real problem w/ my PF last night. out in the chicago suburbs, the temp was down around -5F. my truck wouldnt start :cry:. hooked it up to a wall charger, turned off anything that could draw power at the start, gave it another try, and it finally started... a little reluctantly though. dont know if it was the charger or the load removal, but it did start.

anyone have cold starting issues? these kind of temps arent that common around chicago, but i dont want to be stranded somewhere where i dont have access to a wall charger or a jump start. who's upgraded their batteries? optima red top? others suggestions?

~mike

Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 3:17 pm
by Captain
Im in the Chicago S.W. sub and I was out last night when it was -5 out. I had no problem with it not starting. It was a touch slow but no problem. Take it to dealer and have them do a battery test using a carbon tester.
I want to take the battery out of mine and put a yellow top in.

Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 3:38 pm
by MonkeyMike
yeah, i was hoping to hear from you since you are in the same area. starting it late morning, it was really slow to start. then at night, it just cranked and didnt want to fire. i guess i will have to stop in at the local stealership and see if they can test it.

~mike

Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 5:01 pm
by Pappy
I use the block heater every night up here. The coldest so far has been -33F and the 08 PF starts fine. The block heater really helps.

Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 6:58 pm
by KEVSTER
i had no idea a block heater can be installed on the Pathy, who sells and is it easy to install, how much is it?

Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 8:38 pm
by Pappy
I guess it was a factory option. I picked the Pathy up in Edmonton, the original sticker was kept by the home office. But that little plug was seen tucked inside the bumper opening, lower passenger side. Had I not looked for it, I would not have noticed it.

Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 8:46 pm
by disallow
Pappy wrote:I guess it was a factory option. I picked the Pathy up in Edmonton, the original sticker was kept by the home office. But that little plug was seen tucked inside the bumper opening, lower passenger side. Had I not looked for it, I would not have noticed it.
Its a standard add on at the dealerships up here. Does not come from the factory.

Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 10:27 pm
by Captain
The only thing I really noticed with cold start was that pailful sound the oil pump makes when its cold. mine cry's in the morning for a good 30-40 sec. I really want a block heater. I might have to craw under and look to see if was installed. Most likely not :cry:

Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 4:15 am
by KEVSTER
http://www.nissanpartspeople.com/nissan ... eater.html If anyone can find it, reply back, I have tried. I have sent them a Email on this heater.

Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 7:23 am
by Pappy
Looks like a simple radiator hose slip on. I bet there are aftermarket units out there as well. Again, we have extreme cold here and what I notice is it cranks pretty easy, you can tell there is no oiling delay (noise) and the motor warms up very quickly.....all very positive things.
Up here most every vehicle has a block heater and you will see plug in post even at restaurants, certainly all hotels etc. Even the small shopping mall has a couple of rows.

Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 10:43 am
by KEVSTER
OK, I found this on the Frontier forums, block heater # 110016P700 $147.00 CORD# 24076EC300 40.00, NOW this is for the 2007 4.0 Frontier. I called a Nissan dealer in Ontario Canada and this will fit the 05-08 Pathy 4.0, installs on engine block, he says it threads in somewhere, Now the Dealer in Ontario sells the heater for 47.00 so why here in States they get 147-200.00 for it. I am going to get me one.This also fits the v-6 Altima, as seen here in pic. http://www.factorypartsdirect.com/Shop/ ... 6/vpcsid/0

Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 4:40 pm
by MonkeyMike
good info on the block heater... never thought i would need one until this winter :shock:. always thought it was just for the north of the border folks :P .

back on the original topic, i took it in today, sat around while they monkey'ed with my battery and their magic nissan battery testing machine. test result came bad as a bad cell. replaced the battery under warranty.

~mike

Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 4:48 pm
by Captain
Very nice. New battery for free can beat that.

Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 5:52 pm
by geoffstgermaine
I've had no problems starting my PF down to about -30 F, other than some extra noise, when I've been places with no way to plug the block heater in. It makes sense that the battery was the culprit.

Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 9:10 pm
by disallow
KEVSTER wrote:OK, I found this on the Frontier forums, block heater # 110016P700 $147.00 CORD# 24076EC300 40.00, NOW this is for the 2007 4.0 Frontier. I called a Nissan dealer in Ontario Canada and this will fit the 05-08 Pathy 4.0, installs on engine block, he says it threads in somewhere, Now the Dealer in Ontario sells the heater for 47.00 so why here in States they get 147-200.00 for it. I am going to get me one.This also fits the v-6 Altima, as seen here in pic. http://www.factorypartsdirect.com/Shop/ ... 6/vpcsid/0
It installs in one of the expansion plugs in the block. These plugs are in the path of the coolant, and thats how the heater works by heating up the coolant.