Morning sickness - in NEW vehicles

[DanoT]

According to my mechanic the hardest thing on an engine is a cold start. So instead of waiting for brutal frigid temps to plug in, he recommends plugging in the block heater as soon as temps go below freezing. I use a timer as a few hours of heat is all that is needed.

 

[scott43]

According to my mechanic the hardest thing on an engine is a cold start. So instead of waiting for brutal frigid temps to plug in, he recommends plugging in the block heater as soon as temps go below freezing. I use a timer as a few hours of heat is all that is needed.

Totally...bigger tolerances..more fuel..thick oil..poor oil return..

 

[Sibhusky]

I haven't had any issues with the Alltrack. And I never had any issues with the Audi. Normally my car is garaged, but does sit in the ski area parking lot a few hours in Montana winter time. Maybe it stays warm because of all the cars around it? BUT, the rest of the family owns cars that are never garaged and I don't recall ever having heard them mention anything, either. Frankly, I'd expect and not even remember a roughness in the first 30 seconds. Maybe since I live on a dirt road the car doesn't really get pushed until it is ready. And both my commutes (to/from the ski area) start with going down for a number of miles.

 

[cantunamunch]

Will a block heater free up steering? Seriously - that is the biggest annoyance right now. I'd prefer a solution that didn't require plug-in - it's fine at the house but there is nowhere for when it's parked at the condo.

I don't mind idling until the oil flows well, and it's easy to tell when the fuel isn't gel because the range readout adds ~40 miles after the warm fuel gets back from the injector rail.

But, seriously, stiff steering even 45 minutes into driving is NOT on, especially with less than 3K on the odo.

 

[WheatKing]

Will a block heater free up steering? Seriously - that is the biggest annoyance right now. I'd prefer a solution that didn't require plug-in - it's fine at the house but there is nowhere for when it's parked at the condo.

I don't mind idling until the oil flows well, and it's easy to tell when the fuel isn't gel because the range readout adds ~40 miles after the warm fuel gets back from the injector rail.

But, seriously, stiff steering even 45 minutes into driving is NOT on, especially with less than 3K on the odo.

I'd take it to the dealer and get it checked out.. could be the pressure bypass valve is sticking open in the pump.. might be a faulty valve.

 

[Sibhusky]

What kind of car?

 

[Seldomski]

I thought this thread was going to be about nausea in the first trimester...

 

[crgildart]

But, seriously, stiff steering even 45 minutes into driving is NOT on, especially with less than 3K on the odo.

That's a definite take it back level problem. Even if it clears up after a few minutes it is likely a symptom of a larger problem.

 

[scott43]

Electric steering assist?

 

[cantunamunch]

I thought this thread was going to be about nausea in the first trimester...

Yeh, that's where the name came from - back when we applied it to late-80s and early-90s GM vehicles with ~100K on the odo.

Electric steering assist?

Yup. I'm betting that the dealership's suggested solution will be "software update". *sigh*

It was fine in Ont. and NY and Vt. and Maine - now it decides to get silly when the lowest we've seen down here is like 5F.

 

[Snowfan]

What kind of car?

That's what I was wondering about.

 

[Tom K.]

Odd, at least three of us have asked what kind of car.......

 

[Tony S]

Tuna probably guesses that talking about the specific make and model is a rat hole that will doom the core topic to morbidity.

 

[scott43]

Tuna probably guesses that talking about the specific make and model is a rat hole that will doom the core topic to morbidity.

I'm thinking it's his Volkswagen Eos...

 

[cantunamunch]

Tuna probably guesses that talking about the specific make and model is a rat hole that will doom the core topic to morbidity.

and I wanted to give the dealership a chance to respond...apparently I am not the only one getting a software upgrade at these temps.

 

[crgildart]

and I wanted to give the dealership a chance to respond...apparently I am not the only one getting a software upgrade at these temps.

You bought an Apple iCar??

 

[scott43]

I was driving a car with electric steering assist and you could adjust the "sportiness" of the steering. Basically it just made it harder to turn the wheel, no change in feedback (less if anything) and I felt it was a bit gimmicky. I can easily see the steering getting tight because of the weather and the "sportiness" becoming a PITA as far as regular driving goes. Unintentional racy feel...

 

[cantunamunch]

I was driving a car with electric steering assist and you could adjust the "sportiness" of the steering.

Other models in the lineup have that, this one doesn't (unless they've coded it into the transmission mode selector).

Basically it just made it harder to turn the wheel, no change in feedback (less if anything) and I felt it was a bit gimmicky. I can easily see the steering getting tight because of the weather and the "sportiness" becoming a PITA as far as regular driving goes. Unintentional racy feel...

Err..yeh...'racy'.

 

[cantunamunch]

Well, just picked it up. The engine still takes a bit of warming up - completely expected. The steering is - can't tell yet as it hasn't had a chance to go all stiff and rigid. I guess we'll know by tomorrow am.


For the continually curious, it's a Jeep Renegade (Trailhawk).