Questions about a Dodge Avenger

[zimmerDN]

So this 98 Dodge Avenger w/ 2.5L V6 has problems starting during cold winter mornings. One of the solutions was to use a 60w light bulb under the hood to keep everything to a reasonable level.

But what about a block heater? How much are they, where can they be found & how hard is it to install one?

Another problem this car encounters in the winter time is the weather strips around the door would freeze to the body of the car siezing the door from opening.

What's the best thing to use on those weather strips to prevent this from happnening and not destroy the rubber at the same time.

 

[swalve]

I had a 97 Sebring with that engine, but I got rid of it in 99. Loved the suspension and ride of that car!

What sort of problems are you having starting the car?

As far as the weather strips go, I think people have used silicone sprayed on a rag and wiped onto them and the door mating surfaces.

 

[CBDFrontier06]

Hard starting in cold weather is often blamed on the engine, when it is usually the fault of the battery. You'll be amazed how happy your car will start if it's getting the amps it needs to turn over an engine full of cold oil. A fresh battery, with the use of a an electric battery blanket works miracles.

Not sure what temps you're talking about, but during the bitter cold winters in Wyoming I also used a magnetic oil pan heater. Warm oil makes an engine much more cooperative, even it it is only warm until it hits the cold top end of the engine. Those two 'electric appliances' made winter life a breeze for me and my multitude of cars. Scraping the windows was the hardest part of the morning.

 

[TheLoneRanger]

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Warm oil makes an engine much more cooperative, even it it is only warm until it hits the cold top end of the engine.

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This is very true. An oil heater such as CBD describes will be much better than a block heater, with the added advantage of not having to permanently install anything.

 

[kschachn]

Quote:

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Hard starting in cold weather is often blamed on the engine, when it is usually the fault of the battery. You'll be amazed how happy your car will start if it's getting the amps it needs to turn over an engine full of cold oil. A fresh battery, with the use of a an electric battery blanket works miracles.

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This is also true. When I was in college I had a Buick that was hard to start when the temps got below 0. I used to take the battery out and put it in the shower (hey, it was paid with my tuition) and run warm water on it for an hour or so. That warmed it up real nice and the car started like it was 70 degrees out