The last few days here in Florida have been pretty damn cold. (for florida that is)

Not sure if you guys have had this problem, but when I get in the truck, the last few mornings she turns a little slower and when she starts, all of the needles seem to pin to the other side...not sure how to say it.......like the tach - if you floored it and it redlined and came back to idle..... all of them do that...

Is this a sign that I need a new battery or she hates the cold just as much as me.

 

Sounds as if your battery isn't holding a charge. When the gauges sweep I believe that's an indication of not much juice in the battery

 

There is a little green ball you can see from the top of the battery. Do you see it? Or just yellow/red?

Rich

 

I hope you have a 5w20 synthetic oil in your engine........... Make's for a much easier cold start-up.

Dan

 

Speaking of which?
Do you guys let the engine warm up at idle for a while on really cold mornings?

I used to do it to my RX-7 but dont know about our trucks.

 

I always let my vehicles warm up no matter if it's a cold day or not, especially with the L because they have a forged bottom end. Forged alloys expand more when heating up than cast ones do thus the clearances are a little bigger to allow for the extra expansion.

-Sly

 

wydopnthrtl - I will check to see if there is a yellow/red ball in the battery window.

LIGHTNINROD - Mobil one

And yes.... I do let it warm up for at least 3 to 4 minutes before I go anywhere.....

I looked at Optima Batteries...those are nice....a little on the expensive side, but i think I may go get one soon. I think the red top is the one for our trucks.

Thanks guys

 

I agree, sounds like your battery...

I have had our L for 3 weeks now,
Originally, I was going to drive it in the winter.

I started it one day at -28 celcius last week. The supercharger was not impressed, it moaned for a good 20 seconds, I imagine it stopped once oil circulated it it a little more.

It's now in the warmth of my garage till Spring.

So when you southern guys think its cold out, think how lucky you are.


Shouldn't our low compression motors be easier to start than regular compression motors when it gets cold out?


Iron

 

yes but we have to spin the blowers also
more drag on the starter right there
and if you have an e-fan and radio stuff in your truck go with the yellow top
better for the strip and running the fan

 

Ditto. My yellow top is much better than the stock battery, especially at the track when running the fan.

 

Shelp, I dont mean to hijack your thread (I think you already have your answer above), but Im up here in Tallahassee, and its been 30-something degree weather here last 2 nights. Anyway, for the last 2 days, when Ive started my truck, my idle settles down to 1200 RPM................about 400 RPM higher than normal (usually around 800 RPM I think). A 1200 RPM iat idle is very noticeable, and I started her up / turned her off a few times this AM, each with the same result. Did it at lunch as well, and it was already 60 degrees by then..........anyways, even after a few minutes, she doesnt come back to 800 RPM like she normally does, unless I give a light blip to the pedal..........then she settles down to 800-900 RPM.

Anyone know what the heck causes this?

 

Ya sounds like a week battery

Just be lucky you aren't up here
15 degrees out right now.

 

also the computers have different idle settings in them for colder weather...at least LS1 cars do (I tune them) so I would assume the fords would as well.

-Sly

 

Cool. I've got an LS1 question. My dad dyno'd his 2000 TransAm about a month ago. It's stock, just a K&N Filter. The numbers were good, but you could hear some slight pinging. I was alarmed. My dad got all defensive and said all "newer" cars run right on the edge. So some pinging at WOT is normal. What do you think?
shelpdoggSVT- Didn't mean to highjack your thread. I agree with the other guys, sounds like a battery problem.

 

Mine hesitates and pegs the gauges too. But I relocated my battery, I'm using e-fans, e-pump, and ic-fans. This is with a red top. Do you guys think a yellow top would be better?