cold blooded Tundra

I live in NW Iowa where it can get -15 or -20 degrees real easy. For years this has been going on. In warmer weather I never have a problem as the engine and rest of the drive line is great, the battery is one year old. Last week it got to zero outside and the battery is dead. This happened with the old battery as well.

Ideas, suggestions, the right mojo?

Thanks,

Dick

 

How about a battery warmer?

Kat's - 22100X 22100 60 Watt 28" Battery Thermal Wrap

$25 Kat's - 22100X 22100 60 Watt 28" Battery Thermal Wrap

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08B884JWQ

 

OP, you don't state what brand the battery is in your application. As a former yankee (Ohio), I never had a problem with an Interstate battery and continue to use them to this day here in the desert where temps regularly hit 115°F. Is it possible you're cutting corners on batteries?

 

OP, it's possible that your issue is parasitic drain of some kind. I used my example due to the fact that I've lived in Ohio (where temps get close to yours), Texas, and AZ, and I've never had the issue you're describing.

 

I'm in Montana, and I only once couldn't start my truck. It had been below zero for days, and got down to -40 overnight. Couldn't start it that next day. Battery wasn't actually dead, just too cold to crank. In that case, a battery warmer would work. I brought the battery inside, let it defrost, put it back in the truck and it fired just fine.

So a point of refinement: is the battery dead? Or it just doesn't have the amps when it's cold, then works again when it warms up? Big difference. Too cold to crank can be solved with a better battery and/or heated blanket. Dead battery is due to a parasitic drain.

 

Yes, big difference. As I pointed out, I've gone from one extreme to the other in ambient temps and conditions and have never once had an issue. I haven't used another brand other than Interstate for over 20 years. I'm inclined to believe parasitic drain is involved here, thus the short usage and time frame of 1 year. I could be incorrect, though.

 

Thanks everyone. Tomorrow is supposed to be near 50. we'll see.

Dick

 

Unless your battery is defective, it should crank fine in sub-zero temps... until you get to extreme lows like @MT-Tundra explained.

As others have asked:

What brand of battery?
When you go to start it, is it dead or does it just crank too slowly to start the engine?

I'll add:
Do you have an aftermarket remote starter and/or alarm system?
Have you checked/cleaned ALL the connections at the battery and at the starter?
Have you checked for a parasitic draw when the engine is off?

 

It did start today and ran fine. 4 re-starts, fine. Snow tomorrow night. we'll see.

 

Alright, so your battery isn't dying, it's just not cranking in cold weather?

 

You still haven't answered a single question from people trying to help.

 

Yes, I'm not trying to be harsh, but I have never, ever, had a no-start issue in sub-zero or +100° temps in my 58 yrs. There's something else in play here, imho.

 

Second day with no problems starting. I checked in input and it's 14+ volts. i'll have to take it in, I guess.