Titan in the cold: frozen tranny and other stuff

UWSkier · 02-08-2007, 01:01 PM

Maybe some of you fellow northerners can help out on this one...

Anyone else have a frozen torque converter the last few mornings with these cold -15F temperatures? If I just start up and drive off slowly, the shifts are very abrupt and 'clunky' for the first mile or so. Not at all a nice feeling. I never had this issue on my Chevs. Other than that, the only other problems I've had are that my reverse sonar system seems to think there's a wall behind it at all times (sensors appear to be clean) and my rear sliding window is frozen in the up position (beats the alternative). Oh, that and my right HID doesn't light most mornings after sitting overnight in the sub-zero temps.

Anyone have any experience with this? Any pointers other than let the truck warm up a few minutes before driving on the tranny issue?

rooster · 02-08-2007, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UWSkier

Maybe some of you fellow northerners can help out on this one...

Anyone else have a frozen torque converter the last few mornings with these cold -15F temperatures? If I just start up and drive off slowly, the shifts are very abrupt and 'clunky' for the first mile or so. Not at all a nice feeling. I never had this issue on my Chevs. Other than that, the only other problems I've had are that my reverse sonar system seems to think there's a wall behind it at all times (sensors appear to be clean) and my rear sliding window is frozen in the up position (beats the alternative). Oh, that and my right HID doesn't light most mornings after sitting overnight in the sub-zero temps.

Anyone have any experience with this? Any pointers other than let the truck warm up a few minutes before driving on the tranny issue?

I'm in Wisconsin too, and woke up this past Sunday to -21F. My truck sits in
a garage which usually stays about 20 warmer. I also had the reverse sonar going off whenever I put it in reverse, and my tire pressure monitors. Other than that, all was good.

Frosty_Power · 02-08-2007, 01:22 PM

had the clunk one morning when i never let the truck warm up to temp. hasnt happened since, cause i make sure to warm it up to temp all the time now when its cold outside. as far as the rear sonars, happens to me all the time. there's quite a few threads on this topic and seems quite common with cold temps. had never checked my rear window to see if its frozen(not really wanting to open the back window in frozen temps) but my side windows it happens all the time from the snow and ice build up.

UWSkier · 02-08-2007, 01:47 PM

I have vent visors on the side windows so I haven't had freezing temps on those. I actually tried to open the rear window a little bit for some pressure relief to get the interior temp up when it was real cold on Monday night. Less resistance for the fans to blow against.

As far as the sonar sensors go, I think I'll take a hair dryer to them tonight. I think maybe the problem is they get wet inside, then freeze up. I went through the car wash yesterday at about +8F. They were fine before that.

2tall · 02-08-2007, 02:10 PM

My sonar will do that only if I get a car wash, so I assume it is a ice coating or something. Other than that the local news here said that a car is good once you start it up, yet letting it sit for 3 minutes to warm up is ideal. I always let it warm up anyway because of poor experiences with an old Ford car (need I say more).

Oh one thing I notice that isn't so bad, on cold starts etc my exhaust sounds meaner lol.

Chris93Si · 02-08-2007, 03:03 PM

Do you have the $150 HIDs that a bunch of us bought? I've noticed my passenger not light a couple times in the cold. If I get up there and make sure it's tight, it'll be a little loose, it'll fire right back up.

Bartek101 · 02-08-2007, 03:11 PM

I have had this happen to me this week where the temp was -15F, i have read in another post that when you start the car, put it into "N" so that the transmission is warming up as well, i tried that and

it works, did not feel that hard shift any more...
good luck..

UWSkier · 02-08-2007, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris93Si

Do you have the $150 HIDs that a bunch of us bought? I've noticed my passenger not light a couple times in the cold. If I get up there and make sure it's tight, it'll be a little loose, it'll fire right back up.

Yep. Usually, I'll see the right light begin to fire up, then it goes back out again unless I switch the lights off then back on. That connection was super tight when I connected it, so I don't think it's a problem with the connection.

Treebasher · 02-08-2007, 06:28 PM

The only issues I've had in the cold was a frozen door handle, tire sensor going off(not the trucks fault), and a wiper motor that screams, like a rabbit with a busted leg, when the temps are below -25 F.

I did have one HID light cut out last weekend, -20 when I started the truck with the lights on. Turning them off and on again fixed it.

**loufish** · 02-08-2007, 07:43 PM

Quote:

i have read in another post that when you start the car, put it into "N" so that the transmission is warming up as well

As far as the tranny is concerned, Park and Neutral warm up the same...In -15 deg weather, you bet I'm letting it warm up big time...not no 2-3 minutes. At that temp I'd start it up, and go inside for some hot beverage, then head on out...

tcf_dk · 02-08-2007, 08:46 PM

As far as tranny warming up, I believe that in drive would make the most sense since the gears are engaged and the fluids are pumping. I use this in cold weather and it works.
Sensors always have a problem after a wash. That's normal.
I haven't had any issues with my HID's in the cold. Both fogs and lows work fine in this cold weather.

MuskyHunter · 02-08-2007, 09:18 PM

If the sensors get a slight bit of frost on them, the warning alert will stay on. I find that if I park my truck at work so that the morning sun is shining on the back bumper, the black of the sensors soaks up the heat and defrosts those sensors nicely.

As for the tranny, I haven't had a problem so far. It is no different than any other vehicle I had in sub zero weather. If it gets cold enough, things are going to be a bit stiff.

**loufish** · 02-09-2007, 06:43 AM

Quote:

As far as tranny warming up, I believe that in drive would make the most sense since the gears are engaged and the fluids are pumping. I use this in cold weather and it works.

That's correct, and by loading up the converter you warm up the engine quicker, but you need to be in the truck with your foot on the brake...

PRJ · 02-09-2007, 07:24 AM

-26 below was the coldest I had at my house this past weekend. Truck started up and ran fine. Made a few funny noises at the initial start up, but no different then any other vehicle I have owned. I let it run for 15-20 minutes before getting in and driving anywhere.

I was just happy my doors handles didn't freeze up. Looks like the second time fixing all of them again finally worked.

**Blackbeauty** · 02-09-2007, 07:29 AM

Definitely need to warm the truck first, though. I've noticed that if I pull away when it's cold, the oil pressure spikes at the slightest throttle input. Once it's warmed up, it's just a slight increase. The gooey thick oil can't be good for the engine when it's cold and you're asking it to perform. I always let it warm up....