-40 + 65 = AAAAAAAAAAaaaaahhhH!!!

[Stealth01]

So I got in the car today after it was parked outside all day in -30 to -40 wind chills. It stalled once while idling, so I let it run for a few minutes, then left work.

All was great at first. I left the base, merged onto the local state highway, punched it up to 65 mph, and was glad to be out of there.

Then I needed to brake. I pushed the pedal, nothing happened. The pedal didn't even move. 65mph and the fucking pedal didn't move. It had moved when I stopped at a stop sign before...everything had been FINE.

Uh....shit?

So I downshifted, dropped to about 50, and tried again.

Brakey no move-move.

Downshifted again, brakes.

CRAPOLA.

Finally used downshifting and the e-brake to stop at the next light. Three miles later, after repeatedly standing on the brake, things broke loose and I had my brakes back.

Of course, I was a mile from home at the time.

So I figure there was ice in the lines somewhere. No biggy -- I've lived in upstate NY and northern Maine, so I'm used to this, but at 65 mph, it was a bit of a rush to realize I couldn't stop suddenly if I had to.

I'm staying inside and drinking now. The MS6 is sleeping in the garage.

[2007speed3]

you got water in those lines bro.

damn i never heard of that happening.

[predapio]

This is why at our age, we need to wear Depends Stealth.

Glad you're okay.

[wankular]

I would have shit myself.

[Stealth01]

Originally Posted by 2007speed3 you got water in those lines bro. damn i never heard of that happening.

Yeah, I'll swap out the fluid this summer, when I replace all the other brake equipment. A google search on frozen brake fluid indicates that this occurs in many different cars, so it's not terribly unusual in harsh cold weather.

Originally Posted by predapio This is why at our age, we need to wear Depends Stealth. Glad you're okay.

Haha! Yes, and the perforated leather on my seats allows fluid evacuation into the cushion so I don't freeze to the seat!

Originally Posted by wankular I would have shit myself.

Well, fortunately, downshifting was an option.

[ARES28]

I believe it stealth. Its cold as fuck up here in Denver, too.............My 98 s-10 struggled like a muthafucker to warm up this morning.........

[Stealth01]

Originally Posted by ARES26 I believe it stealth. Its cold as fuck up here in Denver, too.............My 98 s-10 struggled like a muthafucker to warm up this morning.........

Yeah, I was VERY VERY glad my battery is a brand new one. It struggled, but turned her over for me. Block heater anyone?

[ARES28]

Originally Posted by Stealth01 Yeah, I was VERY VERY glad my battery is a brand new one. It struggled, but turned her over for me. Block heater anyone?

It turned over with no problems, just took forever to get to operating temp.............This fucking weather is rough on any automobile.............

[Stealth01]

My needle FINALLY went above the COLD line when I pulled into my garage.

[R.MS3]

Prefer to drive a manual 100x more in the snow, engine braking FTW.

[Tokay444]

You can engine brake an automatic.

[madvillain]

The other day it was like 73 here. I about froze my dick off when the sun went down and had to put on a long sleeve shirt. My brakes work great though.

[Tokay444]

Hahaha. -11C up here. Haven't had any brake issues all winter.

[kngeducate]

Originally Posted by madvillain The other day it was like 73 here. I about froze my dick off when the sun went down and had to put on a long sleeve shirt. My brakes work great though.

Fuck off! It's snowing here and we're supposed to be getting 16-18 inches plus 40-60 mph gusts. Give me Hawaii

[Dash08]

Originally Posted by Stealth01 Well, fortunately, downshifting was an option.

I see, but if downshifting wasn't an option would you have shit yourself?

[Stealth01]

Originally Posted by Dash08 I see, but if downshifting wasn't an option would you have shit yourself?

Most definitely.

[CCC]

Hmm. I'll have to keep an eye out for this, its supposed to drop waay down to the mid-60s here tonight. Hopefully the 80 degree weather tomorrow morning will dethaw the lines.

[thehead]

I had something similar two weeks ago when it was -28 here in Minnesota. I think it wasn't as bad for me since i had 3 or so slow stops before I got on the highway. It was really weird having the clutch pedal stick in for a half a second after you let it go.

[erod550]

Didn't have problems with the brakes in the Miata this morning, but my clutch pedal felt like I had just installed a very stiff clutch until it warmed up. My battery was also not very happy with the cold and struggled to get the engine to turn over. Hell, I'm not even sure it'll start out in the parking garage in an hour when I leave work.

I love my new Mustang, but shit like this makes me miss my MS3 already. At least it stayed in the garage at night so I knew it would start in the morning, heh.

[huffentuff09]

Fuck all you Warm weather FAGGOTS

[HLR Element]

engine braking in an automatic isn't nearly as effective as in a manual.

[Tokay444]

Gearing down is gearing down. So what if you have fewer gears.

[doubleflusher]

fewer

[amoosenamedhank]

Wow, that's intense. If it gets real cold up here my brake pedal starts off like it doesn't want to be pushed in.... so I jam on the pedal and everything frees up.... but doing 65 with no brakes is spicy!

[wankular]

Originally Posted by madvillain The other day it was like 73 here. I about froze my dick off when the sun went down and had to put on a long sleeve shirt. My brakes work great though.

Eat your words. This morning it was fucking 32. I would've frozen my dick off but it had already recessed into my body.

[Ricolando]

Yeah 70's and 80's down here... Glad I don't have to deal with that shit. Do they sell Mazdas with block heaters up there, or do you need get something yourself?

[hyun]

40s here. Sick of this cold weather.

[brandonms3]

Southern California....

[FreeFlyFreak]

I flew into DEN yesterday......... was damn cold.
All the rampers were in full ski gear, ski masks too.

I walked round the plane to check for ice/frost in my short sleeved shirt and they looked at me like I was nuts. LOL

It was so cold it was hard to breathe.

Loaded up, deiced, and then GTF outta there back to SoCal

[etchv10]

well its hella hot out here in south florida 85 today

[madvillain]

Originally Posted by wankular Eat your words. This morning it was fucking 32. I would've frozen my dick off but it had already recessed into my body.

I know, I totally fucked myself in the ass. It was 22* this morning when I was riding my stupid face to class on my bike this morning. According to weather.com though, it "felt like" 20*... fuck that, it felt like 0* or some shit.

[jtspells]

It was in the mid teens today but there was about 14-16 in of snow today on top of the 22+in all ready down.

[xfeejayx]

yea, I get a bit of stutter when I hit the brake. takes a second before it does anything. Going to assume this is the culprit.

[Ricolando]

Originally Posted by etchv10 well its hella hot out here in south florida 85 today

Fuck yeah man. I don't want to freeze my ass off but lows 70's all the time is better than burning up in February. Kinda crazy.

[kgb]

It's only in the 70's here so I'll check my brakes...

Ya they work fine.

Wait, I'm at the beach....

ya they work here too.

[ClutchEngaged]

Although this is a fricking insane story, I love it because it's people like the OP that give me hope that not every driver out there is a complete retard. I swear some other idiots would have just freaked out and crashed.

[slyter485]

Denver weather is a fuckin' tease.. Amazing 70 degrees on a great Friday afternoon two weeks ago, then -10 a week later. Boo