Cold Starting Bitch

[NHCharger]

This was the first winter my 68 was stored in an unheated garage. I usually start and run the Chargers a few times in the winter when the temps reach 50º. Didn't get above freezing for almost 6 weeks so one cold day I try to start the Chargers. No go on the 68. Son and I pull it out and push it into the heated shop. Next morning turn the key, it starts. Back in the garage it goes.

Last night was going to move it back into shop. Knowing it might start hard I brought a torpedo heater into garage and ran it for an hour. Garage temp was 50ish when I tried to start car, no dice. Was getting fuel, put an in-line spark tester on it, no spark between dist. and plug, but have 12 volts coming out of coil.
Before going to work this morning I turn torpedo heater back on. This time I pointed it directly at engine bay, come back home three hours later, engine toasty warm, turn the key, fires right up 

What would cause the ignition system to have no spark from dist. to plugs when it's cold? I have a Firecore R-T-R ignition system.

[A383Wing]

I had same issue with some transistors when I was rebuilding the dash light power packs for the first gen Chargers....they would not work below 40 degrees

[Tilar]

I had same issue with some transistors when I was rebuilding the dash light power packs for the first gen Chargers....they would not work below 40 degrees

I don't like to work when it's below 40 degrees either. 

[cdr]

i had an oil filled old style ign coil on the charger that did the same thing, it was mounted standing up, when i turned it on its side it would start

[firefighter3931]

Mine won't start in the cold either. 

In the past I've put a small space heater under the hood and that has worked. 

Nowadays it just sits for the entire winter and gets fired up once spring rolls around. 


Ron

[NHCharger]

Mine won't start in the cold either. 

LOL- Thanks Ron.

Is this an inherent problem with Firecore ignition systems?

[myk]

How did people drive these cars back in the day when they were new and it was just as cold?

[CB]

How did people drive these cars back in the day when they were new and it was just as cold?

good point 

Mine won't start in the cold either. 

LOL- Thanks Ron.

Is this an inherent problem with Firecore ignition systems?

I hope it isn't Fire Core related since I was planning to swap my Mopar ignition to Fire Core R-T-R any time soon... (got the parts on the shelf)

[ws23rt]

How did people drive these cars back in the day when they were new and it was just as cold?

What I did back in the day was turn the key and give it a couple taps on the gas pedal.--varoom--    I drove my 68 hemi RR as daily transport (for example). It started with ease all the time and where I worked at the time the temps got well below zero from time to time. Another driver back then was a 70 charger rt 440. It also gave me no trouble that I recall when the temp. dropped.

BTW back in the day for me means late seventies/early eighties with these cars. I also used the mopar electronic dist. at the time all else was stock.

So what are the differences today?  Is there something other than the fuel we use today that could be a reason?

[A383Wing]

How did people drive these cars back in the day when they were new and it was just as cold?

points ignition and better electronic ignition components back then....not this cheap off-shore Taiwan crap we got in stores today

[NHCharger]

CB- except for the cold start issue my Firecore system runs flawlessly. I'm also running a ProForm 750 DP carb with electric choke. The other two Chargers have an Eddy 625 CFM with manual choke. When starting the 68 I just turn the key and she fires up instantly (except at 38º) and quickly settles into a nice idle. The other two Chargers require pumping the gas pedal 12 times and feathering the throttle for a minute after they start before they idle. Would definitely recommend the Firecore to anyone looking to upgrade their ignition system.

For laughs I tried starting my 72- 318 Charger one day when it was about 5º. It turned over but would not start. I think the crappy watered down gas has a lot to do with the hard starting when cold.
Also if I ran these cars every day they would be use to running in cold conditions. They're now use to being tucked away during the 4-5 months of cold weather.

[Pete in NH]

Semiconductors ( transistors and integrated circuits) come in three temperature grades. Commercial grade is only speced down to 32 degrees F. Automotive grade is down to about -25F and military grade is good down to something around -40 or 50F. The automotive grade stuff is interesting in that car makers want almost mil spec parts at the cost of commercial parts. They get them too because they buy such huge quantities.

What happens though, is between mil and automotive grade parts all the good stuff gets selected out in a semiconductor production run. The remaining commercial grade parts aren't going to work very well below 30 to 40F. If Firecore is using commercial parts that is likely the answer.

[A383Wing]

  exactly

[NHCharger]

Pete- Very interesting. I learn something new every time I log on here.

[myk]

How did people drive these cars back in the day when they were new and it was just as cold?

points ignition and better electronic ignition components back then....not this cheap off-shore Taiwan crap we got in stores today

Ok, but what about the new Firecore RTR stuff that Ron and some of us are running?  I would wager that stuff is better than the factory stuff, yet they're still having trouble starting up in the cold...

[Pete in NH]

How did people drive these cars back in the day when they were new and it was just as cold?

points ignition and better electronic ignition components back then....not this cheap off-shore Taiwan crap we got in stores today

Ok, but what about the new Firecore RTR stuff that Ron and some of us are running?  I would wager that stuff is better than the factory stuff, yet they're still having trouble starting up in the cold...

Actually the factory stuff is quite good, it has to be considering the qualities produced. The OEM electronics stuff all undergoes extensive environmental testing, temperature extremes, humidity, and salt spray. The under hood temperature conditions are worse than a mil spec. environment. The OEM electronics are amazing when you consider they try to spend as little money as possible and the conditions it has to operate under. For military electronics cost is almost no object for automotive stuff its built for as little as possible in very large quantities. You build a million cars, even a 1% failure rate is 10,000 unhappy owners and warranty costs.

I doubt the aftermarket guys can do anywhere near the amount of environmental testing and product development the carmakers do.

[A383Wing]

How did people drive these cars back in the day when they were new and it was just as cold?

points ignition and better electronic ignition components back then....not this cheap off-shore Taiwan crap we got in stores today

Ok, but what about the new Firecore RTR stuff that Ron and some of us are running?  I would wager that stuff is better than the factory stuff, yet they're still having trouble starting up in the cold...

I doubt it, I will wager that they are not using the quality parts like Pete posted, otherwise there would be no issues starting in the cold weather

[Cooter]

Challenger same way too. Hmmm, makes me wonder now...

[firefighter3931]

Mine won't start in the cold either. 

LOL- Thanks Ron.

Is this an inherent problem with Firecore ignition systems?

I can tell you from experience the same issue plagues MSD as well 

This is the first time I've heard of this with regards to Firecore but then again most of the guys I talk to keep them winterized until spring....then fire them in the warmer weather



Ron

[Highbanked Hauler]

How did people drive these cars back in the day when they were new and it was just as cold?

points ignition and better electronic ignition components back then....not this cheap off-shore Taiwan crap we got in stores today

   good points wires and plugs and didn't really have a problem unless it got wet like when its cold and warms up quick and everything sweats.