Polar Vortex Cold caused propblems

badattitude

badattitude

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Did anyone experience weird problems due to the cold weather this week? My steering was stiff. Today I noticed the cold ruined my smoked chrome grill.
 

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Steering and brakes definitely took a few miles to get to normal. Heat gun might fix that when it gets warm again. Just light passes and it might go back to where it was. Couldn't make it worse.
 
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my fuel door was frozen shut, and i had to pry it open with a spoon at a gas station in the middle of nowhere with horizontal snow flurrying around me. the door is bent now. this was in central pennsylvania.
 
On startup I have a pulley or something related making a screeching sound I’ve not heard before.


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from MA - today it was 0* with the wind chill. i garage my truck every day (not heated but 10-20* warmer in there.) truck still had somewhat stiff steering and transmission until it warmed up a bit.
 
After 3 days parked outside with no start, my dome and map lights wouldn't turn on with the open door function and my HID ballasts wouldn't fire.

Started up no problem tho. New battery in Dec.
 
Dash read -29F on my new (to me) 4runner near the Twin Cities... -55 wind chill. Took a few extra cranks and made a funny winding-up noise somewhere near my feet for about 3 seconds. Steering was VERY tough leaving the driveway, but loosened up by the time I hit the main roads. Steering was slightly more tough then usual the whole day.
 
ScooterMD said:
my fuel door was frozen shut, and i had to pry it open with a spoon at a gas station in the middle of nowhere with horizontal snow flurrying around me. the door is bent now. this was in central pennsylvania.
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Had the tank filled before it got super cold, but I had a surprise trip when it was -40 in Northeast Ohio so I needed more fuel. I poured some of my coffee on my fuel door to get it to pop. Fun times.
 
Having lived in Alaska for several years -29F doesn’t seem that cold but if you live in the northern states like Minnesota, Montana, Wisconsin, Vermont, etc it would be worth your while to install oil pan and battery heaters. They are just heat pads that get siliconed in place. If it ever gets cold again just plug in your car overnight. As for chrome pieces getting ruined hy the cold that is very odd, I have never seen that happen even in -70F. Must have been a bad chrominance process, I’m guessing that is an aftermarket part.
 
I killed a battery, but that was it. My MR2 was kind enough to lend its AGM battery to the 4runner since it won't be using it during hibernation.
 
TT4RLtdV8 said:
Had the tank filled before it got super cold, but I had a surprise trip when it was -40 in Northeast Ohio so I needed more fuel. I poured some of my coffee on my fuel door to get it to pop. Fun times.
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that's smart. I had a screaming baby inside and maybe 25 mph winds with me and snow outside...I was desperate and the metal spoon was the first tool I saw. Will remember hot liquids next time.
 
ToyoT4R said:
Having lived in Alaska for several years -29F doesn’t seem that cold but if you live in the northern states like Minnesota, Montana, Wisconsin, Vermont, etc it would be worth your while to install oil pan and battery heaters. They are just heat pads that get siliconed in place. If it ever gets cold again just plug in your car overnight.
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I've been looking into getting at least a block or oil pan heater. Are the stick on ones really any good? Do they stay stuck for years? I don't want to worry about it falling off.
 
JoeToyota said:
I've been looking into getting at least a block or oil pan heater. Are the stick on ones really any good? Do they stay stuck for years? I don't want to worry about it falling off.
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The battery heater just sits under the battery, no need to apply any adhesive. Battery heater is a must in Alaska. The oil pan heater is applied using RTV silicone and it lasts for years. I've had one on my VW GTI since 2006 and it's still on there like I just installed it. A block heater usually replaces one of your freeze plugs and heats your antifreeze. On my VW the oil pan heater was enough to keep it from freezing and it was exposed to -65F.
 
All the more reason for synthetics. At -29 my steering was barely different than normal and transmission was much better than expected.
 
I did hit it with a heat gun. The wrinkles smoothed out and I was pleased. Until...the wrinkels came back when it cooled.
 

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