PT starter problems

[garyerrol]

Living in an apartment complex as I do, I can never be sure I'll be able to to park close to my front door. At times, I've had to park way down the lot so electricity is not always available. Also their are no outside electrical outlets, so you have to try to run it under the door jam.

I've heard about engine blankets but never tried one. We don't get that really cold air like the last couple of nights very often. Usually our worse is around 4 or 5 above and I don't have any real problems getting it started at those temperatures. Tonight it is supposed to still be cold but tomorrow up near 30, so I can sleep in tomorrow and then get out around noon when it will be warmer.

I want a larger battery not just because of cold weather starting but also because I have a two way radio that I tend to leave on 24/7. Also, I have several LED warning lights that at times can be left running for several hours at a time. And while LED's don't drain a battery as fast as strobes or halogen's do, they still will along with the help of the radio. I'm going to look for a Yellow Top Optima this spring/summer. I've read in some other messages that a 34R is supposed to fit.

I don't know for sure abut how farm animals are cared for in this really cold weather. It's been some 40 years since I was around many. I know my grandfather had some cattle that lived outside all winter. We just had to make sure they had food, mostly hay and corn,and water. I know we had a chicken house for the chickens dad raised when I was even younger. I think most farm animals can weather the cold. After all, what did they do 200 years ago when they roamed wild?

Originally Posted by crusierdad76

Hey grayerrol:
I don't know if you have them where you live but, we have what I call a warming blanket, (think i got it at like auto zone????? it is totaly non flamable and pretty think) you get a nice warm engine and open the hood lay this blanket over the motor close it up and it helps keep the heat in
I know that a lot of cold comes from below so it is not the best thing but it seems to help,,,
also I have a small trickle charger hooked up to my battery when it is that cold,,
I think they make like a warming tray that the battery sits in that will help keep it warm.
I just cant imagine how cold it must be way up north it was like -38 how do you ever manage to keep warm ( plus i live on a farm with cows' horses' goats cats, and dogs, what do you do with them in that kind of cold?????)

[s_eagle]

Thanks so much for all of your help! I was so frustrated last night when it wouldn't start. Then to add insult to injury, the hood was frozen so my husband couldn't even give it a jump!!! Hopefully the temp will go up enough in the next couple of days to be able to make some progress with this! I don't want to drive his Grand Prix anymore...I want my PT!!!!!

[notlovinmypt]

I am very upset with all the repairs I have put in to my 2001 PT over the past year. My car had to be towed in yesterday because it would not start, it was also -20 windchill. AAA came and tested my battery and it had 12.7v so its not that. The repairman called this morning explaining I need a new starter. It has been one thing after another with this car. The next thing that needs fixed is the compressor and the rear axle pivot kit. I have already put in 5,000 dollars in repairs. I also feel like because I am young and a girl I am being taken advantage of to keep my car up and running by these repair places. I don't know what to do with this car. Should I get rid of this money pit???
-Fed Up!

[CREWZIN]

Notlovinmypt, welcome to the forum.

Any one of us would be fed up if we had to put $5000 in for repairs. I wonder how much of that WAS because you are female. Did you happen to ask around for second opinions for any of the repairs that were done?

I'd be real suspicious of that "rear axle pivot kit". I did a search and it doesn't come up at all. That doesn't mean there isn't such a thing but it seams nobody else has ever had it done/replaced/whatever.

Do you know this place where your taking your car in for repairs? Is it a dealer? Are there other places you can get a second opinion?

[Hooligan]

notlovinmypt, welcome to the Forum. I will have to 2nd CREWZIN on his suggestions. The thing you have to think about is: now that you have put that much money into the PT, do you want to start all over with another car? The money you have used, you know that it has fixed those problems.

[junker]

notlovinmypt--
been there and done that with other cars.. somewhere along the spending
road you will have to draw the line. i would get it to run right and then dump it at a car lot. any one can tell you what you can do, BUT you are the only one thats paying out to the repair crooks. cut your losses and next time go online locally and ask around about a honest repair place.. even though
our country seems to be run by greed , threre are honest repair companies
out there...
later

[notlovinmypt]

Thank you for the advice. I just got my car back, it does start better than it normally does now that it has the new starter. I have the part for the rear axle, I just have to get it put on. It clunks really bad in the back when I go over bumps, almost like the back of the car is going to fall out. Anyone know where I can get a cheap (cost) front bumper??? I hit someone on the freeway on the ice 2 days ago and it is cracked!

[junker]

sorry notlovinmypt,
i don't know where you can get a front bumper,but i know a guy that has a world 2 tank for sale. PS> its automatic

[CREWZIN]

Hopefully you know that you can't just buy the front bumper because it's an integral part of the fascia.



You can pick them up on eBay but you might want to check first to see if yours can be repaired.

[s_eagle]

notlovinmypt---
Honestly, I would have gotten rid of it a long time ago. My 2002 is just now starting to nickle and dime me so I'm not too irritated...yet. If it continues, it'll have to go! I love this car but there comes a point when you have to say enough is enough! Five thousand dollars in one year would have been way too much for me! If you feel like you are being taken advantage of, (and this is bad) you need to take a male friend or family member with you the next time you take it in for repairs. I know this is a sad state of affairs but unfortunately, it's reality. Make sure you do a lot of research before you take it in next time. Call around, get quotes over the phone if possible and when you walk into the next repair shop you go to, you'll be ready!

Good luck to you and when all else fails, go shopping!