strange happenings at Logan Airport Central Parking...

doctorno · 01-26-2007, 02:25 PM

returned last night from a 2-day biz trip to Arlington VA; car was parked at Logan's central parking while I was away. when i dropped it off, it had just hit the low-fuel warning, so i figure i had just a couple gallons in her...

Well, as you know, it's been a bit 'brisk' the last few days, and when i jumped in at 7pm last night, it was around 20* outside. it turned over instantly, but i thought i heard something 'squeaky' when it rumbled to life....

so, not really noticing that my car had been outside in the cold for 2 days (at home she's warmly garaged), I started to back up within 30 seconds of starting the engine...

and she groaned and barely moved.

i pushed the pedal down, far more than we should ever have to to back up (RPMs up to around 2500), and i wheezed out of my spot at around 3mph. put it in drive (now a bit concerned), and it really wanted to go NOWHERE FAST.

so now i figured 'duh, it's cold you moron' and let her sit for a few minutes, and as the temps went up she got her spirit back and i drove away. within minutes all was well, back to her old self.

so...here's my question.

do you think it was the low fuel (combined with our wonderful ethanol additives) that was congealing/freezing, or was it my synth. oil (mobile 1, 0w-40) getting sludgy at 20*?

cnote05300 · 01-26-2007, 02:28 PM

I think your car is possesed.. possibly by one of dubsters avatars.. HA

sjz · 01-26-2007, 05:09 PM

I think the problem was a cold tranny. It take a few seconds for the fluid to circulate in the tranny, supplying the correct hydraulic pressure to the various components that use that pressure to actuate. Cold weather, coupled with the car sitting for a few days added to the normal time it takes to get the juices flowing. I doubt the low fuel had anything to do with it.
It was 6 degrees when I left work this morning with the car sitting outside for 12 hours. I waited about 2 minutes, and things were still sluggish. It took about 3 miles before the temp gauge even moved.
-Steve

arnoldw · 01-26-2007, 05:25 PM

I'd get the tranny fluid level checked just to be on the safe side.

duke_dallas · 01-26-2007, 05:30 PM

They talk about this in the owner's manual. It's normal.

1fastsedan · 01-26-2007, 06:41 PM

I think the strangest part of this story is that you left your SRT8 parked at Logan. Do you really hate your car that much?

As for your hesitations, it was just your car's sphincter taking a few moments to relax after being clenched in fear of being dinged, dented, stolend, or vandalized for a few days. or just really cold.

JimmyBamSlam · 01-26-2007, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1fastsedan

I think the strangest part of this story is that you left your SRT8 parked at Logan. Do you really hate your car that much?

Well I'm glad I wasn't the one who had to say it first!! I thought the same to myself when I read this thread.

As for your other problem(the one that doesn't involve where you park your car), I think it was just the extreme cold and your car sitting for days, alone, cold, in an unfamiliar lot, at risk of being scratched, dinged or worse, dented!!!LOL.

C4PC · 01-26-2007, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arnoldw

I'd get the tranny fluid level checked just to be on the safe side.

Sounds like low trans fluid. When it's cold, the tranny fluid level go's down, and if your tranny fluid is already low, the filter will pick up air and you won't move until it warms up a bit and the fluid level go's up.

srt8danno · 01-26-2007, 08:44 PM

I remember people talking about the tranny getting so cold and the fluid getting sluggish. Certainly sounds plausible to me. Glad this wasn’t a story of vandalism and intrigue at Logan International Airport.

srt8man · 01-26-2007, 10:27 PM

It looks like lots of people have given you serious answers, so here is my not so serious one:

She's accustomed to being pampered in a heated garage, and she was angry at you for not taking better care of her and for leaving her alone in a parking lot unattended for so long. The behavior was her way of telling you that she doesn't want you to do that again, so next time take a cab, and leave her home. Give her a good lube and detailing and she will forgive you

Quote:

Originally Posted by srt8danno

I remember people talking about the tranny getting so cold and the fluid getting sluggish. Certainly sounds plausible to me. Glad this wasn’t a story of vandalism and intrigue at Logan International Airport.

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