I guess this is why Canadian cars are sold with engine block heaters. Sucks that it happened to you, but I suppose any other engine would've done the same without some assistance.

And yes, occasionally my Rabbit stutters a little in the winter during a cold start. Luckily it has never stalled or left me stranded anywhere.

 

I would think there is something wrong with your transmission if you could push the car down a hill with the gear selector in "Park." Also, roadside assistance should start from date of purchase or "in service" date. Were you the original owner or did you buy it used? Was it a demo car?

 

Sorry, not in park, in drive. As it it was odd that I could push it if things were supposedly frozen. My bad!

In terms of roadside assistance its not what the lady on the other side said. She said from the manufacture date printed on the inside of your door. Trust me I fought her on this. I was freezing cold and wanted to get of there but they say there is nothing they can do that it is expired. I bought it certified used over a year ago. I wish I would of had it, or they would of honored it.


Also its good to remember that this was also at 10,000ft. So your car might start in the cold, but this is a combination of thin air and cold temps.

 

sounds like you abuse your car a bit more than you're suppose to

btw, i've parked my car in minus 20 celcius and it would start just fine,

 

I live in Breckenridge and do not have a garage. Never had a problem starting in the 3 years I have owned my 2008 Rabbit.

 

-23 C is nothing, last winter we had couple days at -40 C + wind (arround -50 with wind) and my car never had problem. It does turn a little bit slower on the first 2-3 turn but then everything is fine.

maybe you just had water in your gas ? and then the water frozed, and then it stopped your gas from going throught your gas line. Don't use cheap gas in the winter, well don't use cheap gas ever ;p.

 

It was only that one time. Other days when it was -4 down at my home in Boulder there wasn't a problem. Gas is always Conoco 85.

My thinking was maybe the oil was a bit sludgy. 4000 miles out, its likely a bit thick.

 

I noticed that when winter came around here, when I went to start the car the "thirty second" high-rev warmup phase wouldn't happen sometimes. It would just sit right under 1k revs. Still does it to this day, hopefully it will come back in summer.

I dont think the temperature has dropped below 0 F out here yet though.

 

I noticed that when winter came around here, when I went to start the car the "thirty second" high-rev warmup phase wouldn't happen sometimes. It would just sit right under 1k revs. Still does it to this day, hopefully it will come back in summer.

I dont think the temperature has dropped below 0 F out here yet though.

This is normal. Same thing happens to me. The revving doesn't occur outside of extreme temperature ranges (also happens to my Rabbit when it's super hot outside). I believe the process is supposed to warm up the catalytic converter. I can understand why it doesn't occur when it's already hot outside, but not for when it's too cold. Nitro can probably give a real explanation.

 

yeah i notice that too on mine, if i park inside my garage, it would always rev up to maybe 1200 rpm and slowly drop down but if i park outside in the cold it doesnt

 

putting 91 will not kill you but will do great stuff to your car