Cold Weather Effects?

Just wondering how everyone's trucks are doing in the cold spell. It's my first winter with my 09 4x4 (4 cyl, 5 spd). After sitting at work for 10 hours in -30, it started fine, but the clutch pedal was really slow to release. After negotiating a slippery intersection in 4x4, I "shifted" out of 4x4, but the truck didn't, and the 4x4 indicator light stayed on all the way home. After sitting in the garage all night all systems acted normal, but by the time I got to work (-45) the 4x4 wasn't "shifting" again, and the clutch pedal was slow again. Just wondering if anyone else experienced similar symptoms.

 

The clutch pedal is normal, It is hydraulic and therefore when it is very cold the fluid thickens more than usual. The 4x4 issue does not sound normal, but the lowest temp I've used mine in is -4 and it worked fine. At -30 maybe the vaccuum actuator at the front diff fails to operate properly. I would call the dealer and see if that's normal.

 

Im my '06 auto, I have not had any troubles with 4x4 engaging or disengaging, even in -40 weather.

 

My seats are cold. Other than that, it's a champ!

 

My '09 is doing great. Started right up each time. Heater warms up quickly. In fact, this is the first vehicle that I've ever owned that didn't have at least some squeeks and rattles when it got really cold out. Solid as a rock!!!

 

mine is doing fine in buffalo, but being that cold in the north pole is probably the reason. Do you have a starter??? even here i let it warm up about 5 minutes before getting in. and if i do want to engage 4wd or take it out, i try to try to drive a mile or two to get the driveline temps up before switching in/out of 4wd.

 

ya sometimes the 4x4 takes a while to engage but in -40 temp nothing really works very well

 

No problems here. I've noticed my clutch pedal just the slightest bit slower to return at first in extreme cold, but it's not an issue and seems to go away almost immediately.

Still starting right up on the original battery now three years and 44K miles later.

 

those are extreme temps bro! brrr... sometimes mine does that not wanting to shift out of 4hi when its cold but after shifting to neutral and back to drive it always works. but of course it wasnt quite that cold here in the bluegrass state!

 

I actually had similar problems with the 4x4 system at similar temps. When I tried to engage it the light would just flash. Eventually it would engage and the same thing occured when taking it out. When it warmed up to even -20 or -25 it worked no problem at all. Honestly I just chalked it up to the extreme cold because like another poster said, in those temps sometimes things just don't work like they "should". I know that sounds like a lame excuse but it's what I've experienced with other vehicles. I'm not sure what sort of system is used to engage/disengage 4WD on these vehicles, but anything mechanical at those temps can be unpredictable. On my old F-150 with a floor shifter, at those temps I literally couldn't budge it until the vehicle had run for a long time so I suspect it's something similar.

Other than that, the truck was just fine in the cold. It started just fine after being plugged in at those temps and the heater also got warm fairly quickly. I did have to put some air in my tires (tire pressure warning gauges worked, LOL) but that's about it.

 

Only had a bit of snow and ice here in northeast Texas so I didn't get to =really= put my '09 Taco to the test. I was hoping for some iced over parking lot fun!

Only complaint is that when the temps dropped below freezing my low tire pressure light came on. I checked the pressure (tires warm) and it read normal. I went ahead and aired them up a couple PSI but the dash light stayed on. The next day, the dash light went off. Temps were in the upper 30's.

Temps then dropped into the teens and the light came back on. It's been on steady for the past week. Drives me crazy to see that amber light on all the time.

Still below freezing at night but warming into the 40's during the day and =still= the light is on.

Checked the tire pressure and it is normal. Is this TP system just wack or what?

 

Have you checked the spare? Or...I see you have an '09, did they still put a sensor in the spare in the '09s?

 

Good point, man. I honestly don't know if there is a sensor on the spare. I think I read somewhere on this site a long time ago that there is. Have to go searching.

I overlooked the spare since the dash light went off the day after I aired up my tires.

I still need to drop the spare and flip it over to make it easier to check the pressure.

Ah, it's always something.

 

Yeah, I agree with others, check your spare. I went through almost exactly the same thing, and finally checked the spare, it was down 10 psi. I don't know how it went that low that quick to set the TPMS light, but once I filled it back up, the light went off.

 

Oops, responded to quick - glad you got it fixed. I think, from reading here on TPMS, the '09 didn't include the spare, but I may be wrong.

 

Only a small glitch with the TPMS when it dropped to the 'teens (probably nothing for you guys!). Of course, if y'all would quit sending us all that Arctic air, I wouldn't even have had that problem.

 

not a problem with my 08 has just over 31000kms now went up north a lil while ago just before xmas everything was smooth as butter in -35ᵒC

 

my 07 has tpms and i had the same issue it seems, light came on, put air in all tires, didn't go off, took to dealer, said its prob the spare, they did it and all was good, i didnt' wanna deal with lowering the spare and all that nonsense, i have roadside assistance with the 7 yr 1ook warranty, so i never plan on lowering the spare, that will be their job for the next 5 years

 

what??? -35 -40!!! how the hell do you guys live like that? its mid to upper 60's even low 70s in so cal and im complaining.

 

Haven't had any issues in -35c temperature with my 09 2.7l 4x4

The clutch is not operating as smoothly as it would in warmer weather but that's to be expected to a certain extent I guess.