Cold and your Sportage:

1. Cold slows the chemical reaction in the Sporty's battery, reducing its power output. Battery output is usually rated at 77?F. Below that temperature and the power drops drastically. At about 5?F a fully charged lead-acid battery has only half its rated amp-hour capacity. Keeping the battery warm will allow the engine to crank and start faster, and prevent flooding. Electric battery blankets keep a battery warm. So will a small trickle charger.

2. Oil thickens when it's cold, which increases friction and makes it harder for the starter motor to spin the engine. Keeping the engine warm by using a block heater and oil pan heater also helps starting, but another major benefit is reduced engine wear. Warm parts allow engine oil to flow easier into critical areas. Most engine wear occurs in the first couple minutes after a cold start. Rich fuel mixtures wash lubrication from the cylinder walls. Thick oil doesnÆt spray onto moving parts as easily, so using winter grade oil will help reduce engine wear. OwnerÆs manuals list oil viscosity best suited for cold winter driving.

3. If you smell gas while trying to start your Sporty and the engine has been cranking far too long, then the engine may be flooded. This means that there is too much gasoline in the cylinders and the spark plugs are wet, causing the spark to go across the insulator instead of across the electrodes. Putting the gas pedal to the floor during cranking will turn off most fuel injection so that the flooded engine can be ôclearedö, but the engine may still not start unless it is warmed up and the spark plugs are changed.

4. Tires, transmission, wheel bearings and other moving parts all need warm up time. The catalytic converter doesn't function at its peak until it reaches between 400?C and 800?C. Although it is safe to drive your Sporty after a cold start, it is important to avoid high speeds and rapid acceleration for the first two to three miles. The goal is to bring the whole vehicle up to peak operating temperature as quickly as possible while maximizing fuel economy.

Cold Starting Sportage Engine:

1. It is important, when starting your Sporty in extremely cold weather, not to flood the engine or kill the battery.
2. You won't need to pump the gas at all, because a computer chip runs the injectors for optimum gas flow.
3. Turn the key. If the engine doesn't turn over in five seconds, turn off and wait a few seconds. Try, Try Again. But don't kill the battery. Use your listening ears.
4. Once Started: Allow a minute for the oil to thin out and get pumping; Oil settles in an engine, thickens and coagulates.
5. While Driving: Running high RPMs with cold oil creates an unpleasant metal-on-metal environment which is detrimental to an engine's health. Once the engine is warm, it can be run like any other time. "Like You Stole It"

If the Damn thing still don't start then push the heap into a garage and let it thaw out/warm up. Charge battery & pray.