Battery Dies When Cold Out

I mentioned this in another thread, but I know most people weren't looking there. It's been cold twice this year, and my batter has died both times. Once in the garage (sat for a week without moving) and now once not moving for a couple days in front of my house under snow. It can sit for months in the summer and start right up, but here it dies in winter. Did all the other years too. No blowing fuses, new battery (last year; Die Hard with max cranking power) and no shorts as far as I can tell. Because I'd have them problems all year round.

I can't find any info on batteries dying when cold. Just when really hot. The little plastic try is below the battery as someone suggested that it needs to be on plastic. But thats only true with older batteries. It is touching the strut tower and I'm going to put something between the 2. Any ideas though? Thanks/

if it sits in the cold for a long time, like 7 days or more without being turned on in the cold, its also possible the fluid in the battery may have frozen.

I have only heard that batteries may freeze when they are dead.

I'm not sure why, but my car kinda does the same thing. If I don't run it for atleast a few minutes every 2-3 days during the winter, its a bitch to start. And my battery is only about a year old also, although its a shitty EverStart or something like that instead of a DieHard.

I'm not sure why, but my car kinda does the same thing. If I don't run it for atleast a few minutes every 2-3 days during the winter, its a bitch to start. And my battery is only about a year old also, although its a shitty EverStart or something like that instead of a DieHard.

Does it completely die after a couple days though? Even like 2 days when it's really cold?

does your Eclipse have an alarm system (or even the factory alarm) that will drain it pretty good

does your Eclipse have an alarm system (or even the factory alarm) that will drain it pretty good

No. I did the first winter and it kept dying so I took it out.

I asked this dude at work whos sister had a Talon (also 95 NT) back in the days. He said she had the same problem with it. That was perfect in summer, but battery would die in the cold after a couple days every winter. They kept replacing the batteries but it didn't fix it. She had no shorts or anything. He then went on to say, no offense, but those cars sucked and were poorly made... blah blah blah. He almost got punch in the face. Anyways... so ya.

My car has no problems with the battery draining. You HAVE to have a drain somewhere. Thats the only thing that could cause the battery to die.

My car has no problems with the battery draining. You HAVE to have a drain somewhere. Thats the only thing that could cause the battery to die.

But it's not making any sense to me though. Everything is exactly the same between summer and winter on my car but the battery dies in days when cold. If there was a drain/short, it would constantly be dying. Cold doesn't speed up things like that.

If there was a drain/short, it would constantly be dying. Cold doesn't speed up things like that.

That's not necessarily true. If it's a short on a very tiny wire, the wire will get very hot and have lots of resistance being as resistance increases with heat. Therefore the colder it is, the less resistance it has and it would drain faster. But that's getting to be a pretty long shot.

Does it completely die after a couple days though? Even like 2 days when it's really cold?

I've never let it get to that point for fear of it doing just that. I run it for a few minutes everyday during the winter, regardless if it leaves the driveway. To be honest though, I don't think that after 2 days it would completely die. Its just a LOT harder to start.

I dont know why you guys have problems like this. I have never had anything like this happen to my car. But then again I drive it almost every day and it doesn't really get below 20F here. That might be the difference

My car sits usually from Monday-Thursday and moves Friday night then. I'm going to be starting it everyday during the week now just to get it going an letting it sit. I've got a little coolant issue now too so it'll give me some heat while working on that then. Damn cold, snowy, wintery Chicago weather crap.

Damn Dave it must suck to be up there. Monday is suppose to hit 81 here is SC. he he

The HIGH in ND tomorrow is supposed to be -1 F. Right now I think it's -10 and it supposed to drop at least another 10 degrees.

Yeah, its cold up here. I sat outside for a few minutes over an hour having a good tobacco pipe session at midnight last night... and it was -3 F. I had both jackets, a sweatshirt, three pairs of pants, two pairs of socks, gloves, hat, and hood though, so I was fine for the first 45 or so. Shouldnt have packed such a big bowl. :)

As for the battery problem, I almost wonder if its not just going out. My cavy was doing the same thing the first winter I had it. Got a new Interstate battery and she works like a charm now. Oh, and it was a Die Hard that was doing that too. Does your Oldsmobile do this too? I would swap batteried and see whats up.

I know exactly how you feel... I am having stupid little problems with my eclipse that only happen in the cold... fucking minnesota weather... but yea, its driving me insane... no battery issues tho, lol :banghead:

Cold creep drains batteries..something about lowering the internal fluids temperature below freezing temps causes it to drain..don't know the details maybe Wiki it but it was a constant battle for me when I lived in Alaska over a span of 6 years.

It had an Interstate when I bought the car. Was also the wrong size so it got replaced after the first winter (was dying also). I bought an Autozone ValueCrap battery and had a car alarm the 2nd winter and kept dying. I thought it was the alarm considering it was a CodeAlarm... they suck balls. I went through 2 of those and would get tested and the batteries were bad right from Autozone. I bought the DieHard last winter and worked pretty good. Died only when really cold, but I got it late winter last year.

The Olds has a big-ass battery. Wont come close to fitting in the try. But it starts up fine no problem. I think there's an interstate in there. Haven't replaced that in a long time. We have 4 cars in this house and mine's the only one that dies.

And that's my battery history.

i had a similar issue today in the snow... we got slammed with 6 inches of snow, which is common in erie, pa, and i when i got in my car to start it i got this:

-turned the key 1st time and got nothing, my lights and HU and everything lit up but no engine
-second try got barely anything
-waited like 2 seconds, gave it gas
-redid that for like 5 times and it started up pretty smooth and idled fine while i cleaned my car off...

im just worried about getting stuck somewhere if this happens again