TWO Legacies wouldn't start!

[Gil Cleeton]

Hello
It's been pretty cold here in the snow in NY State so I put my 2 Legacy
Wagons 96 and 99 in the garage and put the gas heater on overnight.
Next morning neither of them would start until I left them out in the cold.
Why please?
Gil (newbie to USA from UK!)

 

[Hallan Blaggit]

Frozen gas? How full was your tank?

How cold was it?

I've had my 98 Legacy out and about -30 C, parked outdoors overnight,
never had a problem.

 

[Mike]

There could have been so much carbon monoxide and other oxygen scavenging
going on that there wasn't enough O2 for proper combustion... Puting the
car outside would have likely intoduced it to denser O2 rich air rather than
thinner and warmer warmer CO rich air... If so, try the electric engine
warmer option instead (it is also much safer than risking a CO leak into the
house where you sleep).

Mike

 

[Todd H.]

Hello
It's been pretty cold here in the snow in NY State so I put my 2 Legacy
Wagons 96 and 99 in the garage and put the gas heater on overnight.
Next morning neither of them would start until I left them out in the cold.
Why please?
Gil (newbie to USA from UK!)

That's really weird!

 

[Gil Cleeton]

Thanks for replies
Yes the cars would crank.
The garage was quite warm with the gas heaters on.
The cars were very wet with snow and ice.
I think it must have been oxygen starvation rather than humidity?
Gil

 

[Todd H.]

Thanks for replies
Yes the cars would crank.
The garage was quite warm with the gas heaters on.
The cars were very wet with snow and ice.
I think it must have been oxygen starvation rather than humidity?
Gil

Boy I dunno... if it were oxygen starved enough to not start the car,
I'd have to think the person turning the key would pass out before the
car would refuse to start.

 

[Gil Cleeton]

Good point I always miss the obvious - sign of genius.
They cranked quite fast as usual but wouldn't start.
They start quite normally first touch when outside or when gas heater is
off.
So it remains a mystery and the confounded cars can stay outside if they
like the cold?
Gil

 

[Mike]

Where they inside to keep the engine block from freezing or for _your_
comfort? The second one I understand. If it was the first one, consider
this little item. Cheers.

http://secure.cartsvr.net/catalogs/catalog.asp?prodid=1483478&showprevnext=1

Good point I always miss the obvious - sign of genius.
They cranked quite fast as usual but wouldn't start.
They start quite normally first touch when outside or when gas heater is
off.
So it remains a mystery and the confounded cars can stay outside if they
like the cold?
Gil

 

[Mike]

There is also one for the battery for those cold days to give the starter a
little more help....

http://secure.cartsvr.net/catalogs/catalog.asp?prodid=1482586&showprevnext=1

 

[Gil Cleeton]

Both of the cars will start if the gas heater is off.
They won't start if the heater is on.
The garage is very damp when heater is on melting the ice.
Are Legacies susceptible to damp?
Gil

 

[Jim Stewart]

Both of the cars will start if the gas heater is off.
They won't start if the heater is on.
The garage is very damp when heater is on melting the ice.
Are Legacies susceptible to damp?
Gil

No. Assuming your heater is natural gas,
call your gas company and have it checked
before worrying about the Subies.

Your life could be at risk.