colder than a dog, but something has happened.

[DudeWithACar]

Ok, guess this is a general question to those who drive these cars and live in places that can get to -45 with windchill. (celcus). I started my car this very cold morning and now my "check engine" like indicator is on. The car started a little ruff, but for the most part it's running normal, and the light is still on. I"ve never owned a "new" car before, my old care was a beast. Is this common with this type of car or should i worry some. I own a 01 lanos.

[GsiTurbo]

Sounds like you are in Canada LOL.

Anywho, if it took you a long time to startup the car (lots of cranking), this may trigger the check engine light every now and then. It should, however, go off if you shut it off and restart it.

If the light is still on, you can try resetting the ECM by unplugging the battery for 10 minutes. If the light still comes on, you may have to pull the codes off the ECM.

Changing your oil to fully synthetic 5w30, and the gearbox oil will help with cold starts.

[PrecisionBoost]

My lanos really disliked the cold and as you can imagine Edmonton can get pretty damned cold some days.

There was one year it nearly hit -45 deg C without windchill

My power steering pump squeeled for about 15 minutes and the engine barely started (it was plugged in )

My Optra 5 has similar problems with the power steering pump but the engine is significantly happier when starting in cold weather.

I have never had a check engine light so I would have to think that it seems a little out of the ordinary.

Like 360D said.... reset the ECU and see what happens.

Where are you from???

[Mario]

My Optra 5 has similar problems with the power steering pump but the engine is significantly happier when starting in cold weather.

My Optra Wagon did the same yesterday (-25C), P/S Pump whined for a few minutes. (Kind of scary from a brand new car!)

According to the manual, the P/S System uses Dexron III ATF, can someone confirm this? Under the hood, The P/S liquid seems clear instead of red.

If it's really ATF, I'm considering a switch for Synthetic ATF (Mobil 1)... in my last car, that made a huge difference in the Auto Transaxle.

[TheGreatAndPowerfulOz]

Perhaps unrelated to the cold weather ... have you made sure your gas cap is screwed on all the way?

A gas cap that is not tight and does not allow a vacuum in the tank can cause the check engine light to come on.

It will clear itself after the cap has been tightened and several miles/kilometers have been driven.

I'm glad it doesn't get that cold here!
So far this winter, it has only gotten down to 8F/-13.3C with a wind chill of 0F/-17.7C.

Cliff

[04Aveo]

its gotten colder here then where you are Oz and i am only 700miles away from you. But i dont think it helps that i am bordered with Canada and we get all there cold air.

Oh and my aveo Idles high in cold weather it idles arround 2000Rpm not the norm of 900-1000 when in park.