Hey guys,

So first the basics:

1995 Honda Accord, LX, 2.2L 4 cyl engine, standard transmission, 240,000 km (150,000 miles for you 'mericans)

I'm from the BC coast where the winters are usually never much below freezing, and my car has performed fine for the past year. I've recently started working in Saskatchewan, where its consistently between -15 and -30 celsius (5 to -22 f).

Things I've done recently:
-oil change (low viscosity 5w30)
-brand new battery (highest cold cranking amps they had, 825)
-put de-icer in gas tank (basically methanol to clean lines)
-added a battery warmer and a block heater that run all night. The block heater is really just a large electric heater thats stick to the bottom of my oil pan via a magnet.

I've been having some issues starting my car in the cold. If its above 5 degrees (41 f) zero issues starting, as it drops towards -5 degrees (23 f), it usually takes around five mins to start. Once it's real cold, say anything below -15 (5 f) its a b*tch to start, and more often than not it doesn't. I made a video showing what happens when I try to start it. Funny enough I'd read online that it could be an engine temp sensor thats busted, and pumping the gas might help it start. Mind you I'd tried this quite a lot before, it just happened to work this time in the video, it seems that usually it doesn't hemp to push the gas, before or during starting.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/0xii56b4jr...%20PM.mov?dl=0
Trying to start my car, it's -20 C (-4 f). Sorry for the potato quality video and my mumbling.

When I stick my key in the ignition and turn it to just before where it would turn over, I can hear the fuel pump warm up and all the electrics work. When I try to turn the car over theres just a quiet humming sound, I can also hear the relay click as I try to start it. I can't seem to figure out what's wrong, maybe its the starter?

If you guys can help me I'd REALLY appreciate it. I'll be checking back as often as possible, so if you need more info just yell at me and I'll try to reply asap. Thanks.

Pictures of the dash in the accessories position (-20 c/-4 f):
https://secure.flickr.com/photos/873...57650236074005
https://secure.flickr.com/photos/873...7650236074005/
https://secure.flickr.com/photos/873...7650236074005/

 

If I'm reading this correctly, when really cold the starter will not spin the engine over.

If this is true then something in the starter circuit is the issue - not the ECT (BTW the ECT is not the green connector in you pic).

Can you check for 12v on the small (BLK/WHT) wire going to the starter - of course you'll have to do this when it is acting up. When someone turns the key to the start position, are you getting ~12v on that wire?

 

Battery warmer = good accessory on your part. 5 minutes to start = good battery.
Still thinner viscosity oil, starter, starter circuit are the three lead items on my thought list.
I run 5W-30 oil here in 98F mid-summer.


Best. Never been to -22F here.