Cold weather performance (or the lack thereof)

Just some observations on cold weather performance. I park outside at night so some of these issues may not be noticeable if you are in a garage at night and only driving in these temps.

1. At start up I get a strange brief grinding sound. I believe it is a pully bearing or starter motor. Another member in my town has this same grinding sound at extreme cold weather starts.

2. Clutch sticks to the floor and is super sluggish. After about 20 minutes of driving it wakes up a bit.

3. Syncros in the transmission do not like to line up. I have troubles getting into 1st gear and have to drop into second a couple of times before I can get it into 1st.

4. Transmission is stiff until the truck drives for 20 minutes or so.

5. Windshield wipers move at a snails pace. Even on the highest setting they move slow.

6. Breaks do not grab well and the break pedal is lethargic.

I have owned 3 other Toyotas in this same climate. None have had these nuiances at these temps. The 2016 is a warm weather queen. Damn.

 

I don't operate very well at -17 either.

 

It gets that cold in Navada?

 

I believe that all of the automakers are using lower-quality parts in places you can't see or don't see very often, to keep the cost of the vehicle somewhat reasonable as they make each newer generation bigger, more visually imposing and "blingy" along with fancier interior doo-dads.

 

Yes sir. Northern, Central and Eastern Nevada are what is considered a cold desert (The Great Basin Desert). We are a desert in the fact that we only get 6-14 inches of precip. But we are high elevation with valleys at 5000 to 6500 feet above sea level. Mountains go to 12000. I will normally see a morning or two close to -25 each winter.

Most people think of all Nevada as being like Las Vegas (Mojave Desert). Truth is the Mojave in Nevada is much smaller than the Great Basin.

 

Crazy, knew it could get cold in the higher elevations but here in NY it doesn't even get that cold. Mostly because the Great Lakes keep us warmer in the winter. But -25 that's insane. Even -17 below is colder than its even been here that I know of. Coldest I think I ever seen or heard is -8. And to me that's freaking cold! Atleast you guys don't get the snow though sometimes the bitter cold is better than the snow

 

You're not the first to post similar cold-weather issues here. The OP's temps are not unusual in many States in the northern continental US. And you can't ignore Alaksa and Canada. Sounds like Toyota didn't do a good job of cold weather testing.

It will be interesting to watch this during the coming months when more trucks hit the streets and winter really sets in. Issues with wipers, clutches and brakes are safety items.

 

Northern Alberta checking in.. -40 or colder on the regular for about a month. (This is true temp, not with wind chill)
All vehicles have the same response as yours. We also have to plug them in a night.
Command starts run the vehicle for 5-10 mins then are usually good to go. Still are blowing chilly air for a bit though!

 

Do you have a block heater or oil pan heater?

 

I spent three years at Ft. Drum in Watertown, NY. It gets a lot colder than -17 there at times.

 

I'm in the Buffalo/Niagara area so literally the lakes keeps us warmer until the freeze over. but there is lots of mountains in NY where it gets a lot colder. Here we get a lot more snow then most of the rest of NY, besides maybe the Oswego area

 

My 2011 has done this occasionally on super cold days...but none of the rest.

But, it's an auto so the synchro and clutch issues don't really apply.

I think -19 is the lowest I've seen here, though we often get mornings where it is just below 0.

 

What is this...the weather channel?

 

Do you have a block heater? Also might wanted to consider a high quality synthetic oil for the transmission.

 

Damn man it's 28 degrees up here in Eagle River, Alaska right now!

 

I've noted some of what OP discribes in Toyota (and other products) when I lived where -20f happened during the winter. Time to move to warmer area...it's a sign and it's coming from your truck.

 

I see -40 some days here, but -30 is common. I switched my truck over to full synthetic. Cold start ups is where most of your internal engine wear happens.

My mazda3 is a manual and it doesn't like first gear either on cold mornings. But it's an '09 and I payed 3k for it so it doesn't bother me. Paying 30k or more would make me worry more however.

 

Great, I live in Michigan and just put a deposit down a few weeks ago on a V6 MT6. Expecting truck on 1/18, so it looks like I'm going to be having a great experience with my first new car purchase

 

Could be worse. Like owning a chevy colorado.

 

Break the car in and change all the fluids with better fluids.