Last time it fell below freezing (about 2 months ago I drove for lunch, went to leave and the car acted like the battery was too low to engage the starter solenoid-lights radio etc were fine until they would dim when I turned the key, and the solenoid would flutter a little bit but the starter would never turn. Wait about 2 minutes and the car starts fine. Replaced the battery, a couple days later same problem. Had the starter replaced, and it's been fine for 2 months, but it also hasn't been very cold. Tonight it's 26 degrees, car was running fine all day (and was warm and had been shutoff for about 2 minutes when this happened), then after dark it decides to do the same thing, acts like it is fine bright dome light, radio is on, turn the key and nothing, sometimes it has enough power to make the start solenoid flutter, other times nothing. Pop start the car, drive it home, and it randomly bucked (like the engine died for half a second) 6 times in a 20 minute drive (it's never done that before), after getting home it won't restart.

It's cold and dark so I haven't tested anything yet. Anyone have any ideas what would cause this? I'm thinking maybe starter relay connection issues? Anyone have any other ideas, or has anyone run into this problem?

 

One important thing I forgot about last time it did this. Before it would spring back to life and start/run just fine. I would hear a zap, like a connection being made. I'm guessing either a bad ground, or a bad starter relay connection could cause this? But maybe it's something someone else has dealth with.

 

I went out with a hair dryer and heated up the start relay by the drivers door for about 20 minutes and it started up and has run fine since. My theory is that there is condensation in the relay and when it freezes it won't make contact to start the engine. Went out and got another one so hopefully that's the end of this problem.