2004 Dodge Neon
150K mi.
-12
Hi Scotty!
It's been below zero since Saturday and will continue through Tuesday night. Coldest being -12 (right now), high of 0 Monday, "warming" to 16 on Wed. I'm planning on NOT stressing my battery and suspension by taking an Uber on Monday and Tuesday. I'm not sure if "letting it rest" is best or not. I can't fit it in my small garage right now which is 20-40 degrees, so it is outside. If I wait to drive would the battery be better or worse? Should I at least start it and run to warm it up? Or not stress out the battery? Should I disconnect it and bring it in? What about the fluids? I don't have a battery warmer or anything like the Canadians do. When I got my oil changed he checked the battery and said it's ok. Is there more I should worry about or check with this extreme Chicago weather???
I haven't ran it since Sat, 8pm.
Plus my remote start stopped working a few weeks ago which makes it hard to start it. So, I'll be asking about that next. (I detest this weather. It's tooooo cold!)
Thanks for your anticipated assistance,
Ahren
I'm not sure if "letting it rest" is best or not.
Not really. Cars like to be driven and get hot.
If I wait to drive would the battery be better or worse?
worse of course. Batteries self-discharge. unless you put it on a charger.
Should I at least start it and run to warm it up?
yes
Or not stress out the battery?
batteries like to stay topped up
Should I disconnect it and bring it in?
that would help with starting the car.
What about the fluids?
Make sure coolant is topped up. check your antifreeze concentration. You want a strong mixture for those kind of temperatures.
I'm planning on NOT stressing my battery and suspension
suspension?
It's not the 1960s anymore, your car is fine. The battery is designed to crank in the extreme cold, as long as you have sulfuric acid and not water in battery (the only way this is possible is if the battery is completely dead). The alternator recharges the battery when the engine is running, the tiny bit of water back into sulfuric acid. It's actually a lead-acid battery, one of the earliest battery types. You can look it up if you like. My only concern is the battery's age. All batteries degrade over time, you'll notice when there's a cold snap that a degraded battery is harder to start (it sounds labored). You say the battery is fine, so that's good.
