Thawing a motor

have a 2022 subaru forester, its has the full winterization package, it was plugged in ran fine all week but didnt move for 36 hours while plugged in and went to drive it today and it wouldnt start battery level is fine so I suspect its forzen.

all week it had been -35F to -43 F till yesterday where the high was -40 low -51, should have started it life just got in the way.

luckily, we do have a second vehicle that started fine (we keep it in the barn), wife is out right now and if she can find it going to grab a space heater and some moving blankets to drape over the front of the car and run the heater under them.

Question; anyone here every tried this method and if so have any suggestions?

Also; battery level is fine its not that this time.

a reply to: Irishhaf

You chose your wasteland, now deal with it!!!


j/k


Did it roll over at all or just give you the "click?"

My forester likes to act up as well in the cold, it's almost two decades older than yours however. Have you made sure no vermin have made temporary homes?

a reply to: JinMI

just a single click, lights and radio everything else kicked on like normal, no dimming on the dome light.

Thats why I am reasonably sure its not the battery.

a reply to: Irishhaf

IDK if this helps you as I've never worked on a newer subaru.

But this is what I would do. First check the terminals. Lead and steel mixed with cold create some interesting size dynamics. Then I'd get a socket and breaker bar. Put it on the crank bolt and gently turn clockwise.



I would do this before introducing heat elements to combustibles.

Last year I had the same thing happen to me .... It was so cold thos week that I drove for 13 klms and it would not blow heat... I thought ah #.. head gasket probably gone now or something ....it was mixed 50/50 also .... 2 days later when it warmed up a bit she started right up and there was never a thing wrong with it .. .it was minus 37 that day and went into the 40's that night .... I can't see there being a problem with applying heat as long as you don't have the fire dept in your driveway after but personally I'd back awake from the car and leave it a few days if it's only a cold snap

a reply to: Irishhaf

Along with your normal block heater you may be able to install an in line block heater as well

Check with your dealer.

The normal block heater keeps the oil and engine block warm.

The in line heater attaches to your coolant line and consists of a heater and pump. It heats and circulates the coolant through your engine.

Added bonus is that your cabin heater will have warm coolant available when you start the car.

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a reply to: Irishhaf

It is your battery. Any time there is a click, that’s what it is. And judging by the temperatures you mentioned - it’s certainly that.

I have brand new batteries die in 20 degrees where I’m at.

I have 6 vehicle. So I know.

a reply to: KKLOCO

That's another thing that can be done. If the terminals are solid and it's still not starting, bring the battery indoors for abit.


Good call.

Was in Sterling Colorado in the early 90's when an arctic blast came through and we had temps down near 50 below. Car couldn't turn over due to the extreme cold so what we did was light charcoal briquettes on a metal trash can lid and slide it under the engine (and take turns sitting nearby with a fire extinguisher just in case). 30-45 minutes later, turned the key, and warm air came out the vents and it fired right up.

originally posted by: JinMI
a reply to: KKLOCO

That's another thing that can be done. If the terminals are solid and it's still not starting, bring the battery indoors for abit.


Good call.

If I lives where you guys do - I’d have a secondary battery with a bridge to link to that secondary.

I have them in 2 of my 6. They are a godsend.

a reply to: KKLOCO

Irish is far and away much colder than where I am. But I take your point.

Don't know if anyone mentioned.. Open the hood and move the crank belt if possible to see if the motor rotates at all. If so, then not frozen, or put in higher gear and push it a few feet.

Be careful thawing out too fast, can crack things too.
Ouch minus 40 That's just too cold.

appreciate it one and all.

we have warmed up to ambient of -25 with blankets covering the motor it was able to turn over.

Waiting on the wife to return to watch the midget and the maniac (1 yr old siberian husky) and ill take it to town just to make sure there isnt a bigger issue and get it good and warmed up.

I do not like the lack of temp indicator on this car, so I just have to cross my fingers that it isnt the coolant that froze.

unless someone knows a trick to figure that out.

ETa: side not bunch of idiots were literally sitting in a line of cars to have a turn at running up to the University of Alaska temp sign in their underwear and have their pictures taken. saw some showing -51F, I did the polar bear dunk 1 time no way am I stepping outside in my underwear in these temps.

a reply to: Irishhaf

Open your radiator cap and look?

a reply to: Irishhaf

Let it run and see if your heater begins blowing warmer air, getting warmer and warmer. If it doesn't , but keeps blowing ice cold air, then don't drive it to town. Would be some icing somewhere blocking the coolant flow.

a reply to: Irishhaf

The water pump would be the only thing keeping it from turning over, if it's froze. The older American V'8s would usually spin the belt or shear the water pump shaft and start anyway, and run until it thawed the engine. then water would start spewing out the cracked block, blown freeze plugs and water pump.

Bet it's the battery, but it still could be frozen.

originally posted by: KKLOCO
a reply to: Irishhaf

It is your battery. Any time there is a click, that’s what it is. And judging by the temperatures you mentioned - it’s certainly that.

I have brand new batteries die in 20 degrees where I’m at.

I have 6 vehicle. So I know.

The "click" is a solenoid that works fine, the problem is either not enough juice from the battery OR perhaps a frozen Starter Motor that is shorting before it gets a chance to turn the flywheel. Blowtorch the starter motor from a distance and tap it with a solid object a few times. It may have got moisture into it when you last drove that froze solid while sitting. Also try sticking it in top gear and give the whole car a shove to free all frozen innerds enough to overcome the initial momentum needed to turn the motor to start it.

Or get a sled for the Husky.

a reply to: Irishhaf

I run a 3500 diesel duramax.

I have the following.

Block heater
In line coolant heater
Electric battery blanket
Insulated radiator bra
Winter rated synthetic oil

I do the following.

Park with the front of the vehicle facing down wind

Idle it for at least 20 minutes once or twice a day if I’m not using it.

So far it’s always started. All the way down to -40.

a reply to: Irishhaf

In Siberia they Jack Up their Trucks and Build Fires Under them to Thaw them Out ....Geez , Crazy Ivan's , eh ?

As someone mentioned the starter motor, I had a old Ford car that I used to have to hit it a little tap with a hammer to get it going decades ago .

We have had a crazy swing in the weather in the last week , it went from minus 20 c to plus 20 c ( 67 f ) tee - shirt weather .

Gutted I slept in today as I was going to take my dog along to the cairngorm mountains for the dog sled competition www.visitcairngorms.com... and it is the final year it was being held