Sometimes starter won't crank when really cold

[Stainless]

There's been a couple of times when I've had to leave the car outdoors for an evening while I worked in the garage and it's been fairly cold outside (between 30 and 45 degrees). In these instances, I've gone to start it to put it back in the garage and the car won't crank when I turn the key. It's almost like the starter doesn't have a good electrical connection since it doesn't do anything. No clicking or anything. It happened most recently on Saturday. Out of desperation, I rolled it down my sloped driveway to pop the clutch to get it started. After moving it in the garage, I turned it off and tried again and it cranked and started fine.

It always cranks and starts fine under all other conditions. Does the original starter not like cold weather in its old age? Any ideas on where to start?

[Bitsyncmaster]

Lots of electrical can show problems with cold or hot temps. You are going to need to use a voltmeter to find your problem. The starter probably is not the problem since you don't even hear it click.

[David T]

You probably have a bad connection somewhere that is thermally sensitive. Doubtful it is the starter.

[Rich]

Battery may be on its way out, too. When they start to go bad in any car the first symptom is often poor low-temp cranking - or none at all....

After you push-started the car the battery got a bit of a top-up, which also warms it a little.

[Stainless]

So it looks like I'll be testing the battery first. Any connections that you guys recommend I check first? I have no idea where to start.

[David T]

So it looks like I'll be testing the battery first. Any connections that you guys recommend I check first? I have no idea where to start.

If you don't even hear the solenoid clicking it could be anywhere in the starting circuit. If the solenoid clicks it is between it and the starter.

[DMCMW Dave]

Make sure you have the starter recall done. That car's right at the edge of the factory correction.

http://www.dmcnews.com/bulletins/ST-05-2.82.html

Without this recall, the car is very twitchy about even a slightly low battery.