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Cold Weather Problems

112 messages,  Last post on Jan 15, 2011 at 9:26 AM

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What is this discussion about? Electrical, Engine, Fuel System, Fuel Efficiency (MPG)

Messages Page 1 of 12

#1 of 112 Cold Weather Issues by megawhizz

Dec 26, 2004 (11:54 pm)

I've recently noticed some problems with my 2002 A4 1.8T Manual, and was wondering if anybody here has noted the same issues.
 
The problem appears whenever it is very cold outside (below freezing). Upon starting the car it moves very slowly, behaves as if the parking brake was on. Acceleration is poor, the car drags and the moment I take my foot off the gas the car stops quickly. The problem disappears as the car warms up with continued driving. The colder it is, the worse the problem is.
 
Never had this problem with previous winters.
 
Any help is appreciated!

#2 of 112 by wtd44

Dec 27, 2004 (9:45 am)

Check your brakes. It sounds like they are dragging.

#3 of 112 Re: [wtd44] by megawhizz

Dec 27, 2004 (12:17 pm)

Replying to: wtd44 (Dec 27, 2004 9:45 am)
If the brakes were indeed the problem, why does the problem disappear as the car heats up?

#4 of 112 by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Dec 28, 2004 (11:56 am)

Could be contaminated brake fluid, cruddy calipers, or ice forming on badly grooved rotors. It's a peculiar problem but does seem to be brake related.
 
I'd try leaving the emergency brake OFF overnight and let us know what happens.

#5 of 112 I've had intermittent e-brake cable sticking by swschrad

Dec 28, 2004 (10:52 pm)

on most of my cars over the years when it gets cold. likely where the cable comes in through the back of the brake assembly, GM once pointed that out in a manual I had. things get warm enough, the issue is gone... and a dragging brake will warm it up some.
 
just to be sure, have a little brake fluid bled from each brake, to be sure you don't have a little icy clot keeping pressure on one or more wheels. it's recommended you replace the fluid every couple of years anyway, so you're close enough to have somebody evaluate it on the caliper end.

#6 of 112 Re: [swschrad] by wtd44

Dec 29, 2004 (1:42 pm)

Replying to: swschrad (Dec 28, 2004 10:52 pm)
And in my case, I've tracked down brake dragging to "bad" calipers, where the piston and bore had mating surface problems. Solution: Replace the bad caliper(s), and bleed and replace the brake fluid.

#7 of 112 that would also do it by swschrad

Jan 04, 2005 (9:01 pm)

I have been given an idea by alldata that there are actually e-brake shoes in my disk rears on my exploder, but it's cold and I don't want to squirm around in the salt taking things apart to look at it. regardless, once it warmed up, the ebrake released again, and we're back to normal.
 
a dead caliper could well have caused the right rear to have burned through the pad and gouged the rotor past cleanup last spring. all those issues were addressed at the time. doesn't explain how the brake techs missed the e-brake cables being seized up, for which I gave them a good talking to.

#8 of 112 winter driving by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jan 21, 2005 (11:26 am)

here's an interesting article from Edmunds editorial that you all might enjoy reading:
 
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=104125
 
Shifty the Host

#9 of 112 Follow up by megawhizz

Feb 03, 2005 (8:07 pm)

So I took the car into the dealership - and they told me that they could not reproduce the problem (wasn't that cold overnight). They feel that the parking brake cord might be getting stuck because of freezing, and the brake does not disengage even after I put it down.
 
They lubricated it again, and hopefully it will stay fixed.
 
Thanks for all your input, and I'll post again if something new develops.

#10 of 112 Clutch Problems by rmartinez

Feb 09, 2005 (10:08 am)

Help....I am wondering if anyone has info on WRX clutches having problems. My 2004 Impreza after an extremely snowy evening would not go into 1st or 2nd gear. I had someone tell me that they read that there were problems with these cluthes. Can anyone verify?

Messages Page 1 of 12

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