But my car won't start and I know dad is having his own snow problems (they're forecasted to have 20-30"!!!) so I'm wondering if any of you hobbyists with far more life experience than myself has any tips for me! I want to go explore this frozen tundra and not by waiting for the bus.

and talk dirty to it, your hot little self should be able to warm it up enough to get it going

I'd offer, but that could be construed as weird.

If the car does nothing when you turn the key and the lights either don't turn on or are very weak, the culprit is probably the battery - the cold slows the chemical reaction in the battery that generates electricity, and if it puts out too little, there won't be enough to start the car.

I wish it were that easy! I did some sweet talking but she didn't listen.... just whispered soft putts into my muffed ears.... poor thing. :/

Only weird b/c you're a NamelessHobbiest.... I would be eager if someone had references and reviews up the wazoo

The battery is fine, I give it a little bit to get the electricity running before turning it over, but it won't turn more than a little. So it must be fuel line is frozen or someone on Facebook suggested an oil pan heater to keep oil from freezing? Maybe. My tank is at 3/4 tank. What temp does it all start to thaw at? I've started at -1 and had no problem. Maybe today is a bus day.  
 

- how decent your battery is, clean terminal connectors etc
- the condition of your alternator and the belts that drive it
- how brave you are  

If you have a hair dryer and extension cord put the hair dyer on the radiator facing the engine, slowly close the hood and wait for 20-30 minutes and see what happens...put hair dyer on high.  
It worked on my father-in laws van last week and he started it for over a week.

You must be slightly mad, starving, or cold-blooded *Scandinavian here* to brave this weather. Or on the schedule at work lol. I would love to take an adventure walk with you if you're downtown Minneapolis lol.
 I hope the car it starts tomorrow when I have to go in! I don't have AAA.... and let my Allstate emergency assistance lapse lol. Perfect timing.  

Posted By: crushedflowers

- how decent your battery is, clean terminal connectors etc  
 - the condition of your alternator and the belts that drive it  
 - how brave you are  
   
 One thing you have in your favour is that the AAA deal with women (and children) first presumably because men have built-in antifreeze?  
   
 I understand the urge to explore. I've never been in temps as low as this myself and am going for a walk later, just so I can say I did it (and possibly because I'm slightly mad?).  
   
 

If you need help let me know, I work on them all day

Posted By: crushedflowers

- how decent your battery is, clean terminal connectors etc  
 - the condition of your alternator and the belts that drive it  
 - how brave you are  
   
 One thing you have in your favour is that the AAA deal with women (and children) first presumably because men have built-in antifreeze?  
   
 I understand the urge to explore. I've never been in temps as low as this myself and am going for a walk later, just so I can say I did it (and possibly because I'm slightly mad?).  
   
 

Because gasoline now has at least 10% ethanol, gas line freeze seems unlikely. Though you say that your battery has power, you have to wonder if it has enough power, i.e., enough cold cranking amps to sustain sufficient firing of you engine. An oil pan heater, block heater and trickle charge on your battery could certainly help. If your battery is older than 4 or 5 years, a new battery may do the trick. Get a good one.  

I could help, but i dont think i have enough references. Thats the trouble with staying TOO low profile lol

Neither of the cars here are working here either.. and while I have triple A, and called at 8AM, they won't be here til at least 330- so even if you had triple A you'd still miss work.

Point the hair dryer at the battery. Cold battery will not turn the motor over quick enough to start the engine.  
 

Posted By: AlastiNatalie

But my car won't start and I know dad is having his own snow problems (they're forecasted to have 20-30"!!!) so I'm wondering if any of you hobbyists with far more life experience than myself has any tips for me! I want to go explore this frozen tundra and not by waiting for the bus.  
   
 The scene:  
 My car is outside.  
 Last time it was running was 7 pm last night.  
 I have no jumper cables.  
 It does not plug in.  
   
 Ready.... go! I know you're all sitting at your computers on this cold day too  
   
 xo  
 

Find someone to get a jump from to get it started.  

It will take an investment, but it has been well worth it for me.....depending on where you park- street or driveway. But a battery charger is a low dollar investment($35-50) and is effective in keeping the battery from freezing- though, as others have said, if it is 4 or older.....SIGH.......adios......  
I am also a HUGE believer in a tank heater.... Whether block, oil pan, or dipstick- and in that order- I wouldn't own a vehicle in MN without a tank heater. And my last birthday present to myself was a remote starter. I worked outside too many winters to EVER play the macho winter game. Too late for today and/or tomorrow(Friday will be 30) but when you can, invest wisely in your future in Minnesota.......my $.02

ust found some HotHands Hand Warmers... could I put those on top of my battery? Not touching anything.... just sitting there.... or maybe somewhere close by. It says 10 hours of heat

Thanks for the compliment, though really this is just a side-effect of my mother's life-long attraction to mechanics. : P

If the gas line is frozen you will have to dump a bottle of heat in it and wait. If the line is frozen no amount of jumping is going to make it start.

Hmmm, if your battery won't crank it over for at least a minute I d replace it. It might crank a bit slow in the cold bit should crank it over. If you left a dome light on or something else on last night, charging it or jumping it will work. I d bet that the battery is 5-7 yrs old and getting weak. You don't want to get it jumped and be stranded someplace worse re next time it's -20. Getting a tow truck to jump it could lead to the same thing next time it's really cold.  
      The ethanol blended fuels don't typically freeze until -35 unless you have a large amount of water in your tank.

I've been told that in this part of the world, you should leave at least 1/4(?) tank of gas in the tank, otherwise the moisture in the air will freeze and then melt when it warms, leaving concentrations of water. Sounds like it's flying a bit in the face of the known principles of rheology to me but I suppose it might have a kernel of truth to it?

this one is a myth.  

As mentioned earlier, gas nowdays has 10% ethonal. Ethanol = alcohol.  Read the ingredients on gas line antifreeze. The only reason it is still sold is because people still buy it. If you use todays standard gas, you don't need it.

If you can disconnect the battery and bring it inside with you it should gain its charge back. May take a while to thaw though.
Please let us know if anything worked for you.

And two more thoughts; What is going on in your neighborhood that someone doesn't own jumper cables and why didn't one of them come out to help you this morning?  

No myth..... Why do you think truck drivers keep there tanks fuller in the winter.... those motors return enuff hot or warn fuel and yes you do get condensation on the inside of the tank.  I know from exprience

Last resort,if you can't get anyone to help.  All you need is a 6 amp Battery charger,extension cord with a 3-way, and a oil dipstick heater. Sometimes not all auto stores have the oil dipstick heaters. Then just get an magnetic heater.  Plug in your cord, put battery charger on your battery with red alligator on the pos.(+ or red cable).Take out the oil dip stick and replace it with the dipstick heater(make sure you stick it all the way down until it stops.Or if you end up with the mag heater stick it on the oil pan(preferable) or on a flat spot towards the bottom of the engine. Leave it all  plugged in for 3-4 hrs. The charger will warm the battery with the current flow. And the heater will warm the engine.Just call your auto parts store,they will deliver it to you. Then just return everything when you are done.
Good Luck

I was off today (thank God, the horses were fed by someone else!)

Also doesn't air temp need to be above freezing or near it? At -20 I can't believe there is much water vapor in the air... The frost point is typically used to describe water in the air below freezing and if I remember correctly there is exponentially less water in air below freezing  then air above 50 degrees. I could be wrong.  
       

Posted By: crushedflowers

 
   

Posted By: hornet37

No myth..... Why do you think truck drivers keep there tanks fuller in the winter.... those motors return enuff hot or warn fuel and yes you do get condensation on the inside of the tank.  I know from exprience

   
 But for condensation to happen, the ambient temperature would need to be warmer than the gas - if a car is standing, temperatures would be equal. If the gas tank became slightly warmer then it may cause some condensation to occur on the inside when the car stops again, as liquid retains heat for a longer time than the atmosphere. Once it dropped below ambient temperature you would indeed get condensation inside the tank. But I don't know that a gas tank could warm up appreciably, especially in these temperatures... I'm still to be convinced!  
   
 

Truck drivers have diesel fuel in their vehicles....a completely different type of fuel. They often end up in trouble because when going cross-country, they will not have winter- mix fuel, and diesel fuel will jel and quit flowing. I would bet a date with any of the beautiful lady that a new battery will solve her issue.....and I have references!!

As driving truck you are right about the fuel so called gelling. The motors these days return enuff fuel back to the tanks, when you take the caps off you get steam to come out, steam means condesation. Trucks don't gell up anymore, the fuel ices up. Also depends on if you run bio fuel. If it's  rrue soy or animal fat. I know, I drove truck.

Leann,

Too funny, I was thinking that too, in fact some Minnesotans hasten the process by turning the oven on very low, turning if off and putting the batter in with the door open-Natalie, don't get the impression you can bake it , set it somewhere warm, on a register or somewhere.  If you can get it out and bring it in, sometimes it really helps.  Hope you had or have good luck!  I can remember when it was soooo cold like this that a gentleman I knew who did not have garage or engine block warmer actually started charcoal in a pan and put it under the car to help thaw it out- no fire of course but low embers haha- Welcome to Minnesota!

PM me in morning if your still having problem. If the engine only turns a little, then it's a weak battery, an nothing else.  I'm an electrical and computer engineer and I know a little about battery

Totally forgot about the charcoal! Now if you remember how to check for bad battery cells in the comforts of home w/o paying a shop or mechanic I'll know you are a Mn grown woman every Mn man prays for!

I second bringing the battery inside.  If you have juice this trick will also help,  Modern cars have electric fuel pumps.  It takes a few seconds for the pump to bring up fuel pressure.  Before you start the car turn off the radio, and fan so you can hear.  Turn the switch to "on" but don't engage the ignition.  You will hear a hum, this is the fuel pump.  When it stops it means that you now have good fuel pressure.  In very cold weather I will turn the key on and off a couple times and repeat.  When you have good fuel pressure THEN engage the ignition.  If your car is a hard starter or you have an iffy battery this can make all the difference.

Posted By: AlastiNatalie

But my car won't start and I know dad is having his own snow problems (they're forecasted to have 20-30"!!!) so I'm wondering if any of you hobbyists with far more life experience than myself has any tips for me! I want to go explore this frozen tundra and not by waiting for the bus.  
   
 The scene:  
 My car is outside.  
 Last time it was running was 7 pm last night.  
 I have no jumper cables.  
 It does not plug in.  
   
 Ready.... go! I know you're all sitting at your computers on this cold day too  
   
 xo  
 

I remember a few years back, the way we would get a car started and warmed up fast was to put a pan of hot charcoal under the engine. In about fifteen minutes to a half hour, I'd be ready to go.

Hmmm, would that be to take the caps off of each cell and see if they are filled with fluid? J.xxxox

diesel trucks are very different than cars.  Cars do not return fuel from the motor. condensation is not reduced by keeping the tank full google it.  The reason cars do not start is the viscosity of motor oil and the reduced energy from the battery due to cold. Sever cold cause the fuel to not vaporize.  low battery energy renders compression to be too slow for the vapor that does exist to fire.  filling the tank is about as effective as warming the radiator with a hair dryer (another piece of advice from a well intended contributor).  Another contributor offered that she should pump the gas which has no effect in a truck or a car.  You could put a blanket on the motor which does nothing at all,  btw diesel trucks do not fire, they do not have spark  

I have seen a pan of hot coals used, but I never thought it a safe practice to put them under a gas engine.  IMHO

And how I can't wait for you to touch me more!  
 
I posted the other day for advice on how to start my car in this subzero weather, and immediately began receiving messages/texts/calls with advice and even offers from gents who wanted to help. Many didn't have references (so sorry, couldn't let you come over! I really appreciate the offer) but finally a kind gent with a plethora of whitelists and reviews contacted me with a jump for that evening or this morning. I opted for this morning and this kind gent braved traffic, crazy cold drivers, and falling icicles to help me - a provider he never met before - with a jumpstart.  
 
The point of this post is to say a huge THANK YOU to all the stand-in boy friends (& even girl friends!) who had help for me when no one else did. My Facebook post about my ordeal had only 2 comments and one was me replying to that friend! (I just remind myself I'm not from here )  I know I can bring a question or concern here, whether it be about our online community or our physical community... and there is support.  
 
Thanks for being so Minnesota Nice :

Good tip Tinknai! This has helped me too and you can tell when it turns on. I also was told that on newer cars, many are not aware that they also have a plug in for a block heater-etc. You need to look behind the front grill sometimes or look up under the front to make sure there is not one- or it has a cap over on it and you don't notice- look carefully and if there is pull it out a little so you can plug it in from the house or an outlet- easy and sure makes a difference- even so when it as cold as it has been let it warm up a little while!