Hey all. Just went to Chicago to buy a 08 civic. I had driven 120 miles to get there and had asked the salesman to make sure to let me crank it cold. When I get there the air temp is something like 5 or 6 degrees. He had told me that they had washed the car the day before. I tell you this cause it is pertinent.
So I get in the car. Having had a 01 civic that I just wrecked ( rip ole buddy ) the only real issue I had with it was that it would not warm up while sitting at idle. So we were sitting there about 10 minutes letting the car warm up. ( never did get warm,,, very strange ) About 2 minutes into the test drive there is this strange crackling/frying sound coming from the dash right near the instrument cluster. The noise lasts for approx. 30 seconds. He says that it's just ice melting. I thought, OK, that's strange but it's really cold so maybe. Only it happened again a minute or so later. And lasted much longer this time. This time he says it must be the seal for the windshield expanding. I have been driving for over 30 years and I have never heard a car make a sound like that, unless, it was wires frying.
Now grant you, I am from Ms and we don't get that cold of weather down there. But I have lived up here for the last 10 years or so, and I have gone out to warm my car when it was 5 or 6 degrees after it had been snowing, with ice all over it, with salt all over, and I have NEVER heard anything like this.
Has anyone else ever heard of anything like it??
Needless to say I passed on the car. I was just terrified of it. But I am just curious as to whether he was just blowing smoke or if it was possible. Thanks in advance and have a good day.

 

Well its kinda normal it would take more the a few minutes for it to warm up at idle but 10 minutes you should of seen at least 3-4 bars on the temp gauge. It's always best to start the car wait 30 seconds and then drive as it will warm up the car much quicker.

Anyways to go back to the question... something was up for sure it's not normal it would making does sounds for that period of time. The car probably had an issue. You should of found a reputable shop around and have them do a full check up on the car. They would of probably spotted something which the dealer would of had to fix or lower the cost. Was the car still under warranty?

 

No, it wasn't under any warranty. I asked the dealer to give some ( AT LEAST on the electrical system ) but he said no, so I said no.
As per the warming up. I had the 01 for 3 years, it did it. I test drove a 2011 it did it. Now I drive the 08, same thing. Can only assume it is the way Civics are designed. But it is just totally stupid if you ask me.

 

If you start a car in 6 degree weather and sit at idle....presumably with the heater on, it will not warm up. Especially with high winds that are moving 6 degree air over the radiator at 20-40mph.

This isn't just civics. Almost any car will behave that way.

But if you let it sit with the heater OFF, in 10 mins, most modern cars should register atleast a few bars on the temp gauge.

If the car was sitting inside (heated spot), there can be a crackling noise from the water forming into ice.

If the car was already outside, it might have been ice melting or falling off of things.

I wasn't there to hear these noises...so I can't say for sure in your case. But...I live in the Chicago burbs. Speaking from experience, cars make a lot of funny noises when it gets that cold. Warming cars up can also take a little while.