Recurring problems in colder weather...
This is actually three questions in one. Please excuse me, I know next to
nothing about cars.
For the past three years my Geo has been giving me problems whenever
the weather changes. It runs, starts, and everything works perfectly all
summer, but, come fall and winter, everything falls apart. I've taken it to
shops to have them check out these issues...but nothing they find, when
they do find anything, seems to be fixing any of them.
1. As soon as the temperature starts dropping below 50, it only starts when
it feels like it. I turn the key, and my dash lights up and beeps as though my
door is open, but nothing moves. It seems like everything is connected
properly, although, after looking today, I do have a decent amount of
corrosion around the handle of my battery. Obviously it's time for a new
one, but, as it's been doing this for a few years now and the battery hasn't
been like this for that long. I have a hard time accepting that as the sole
problem.
2. In the winter, usually not until it's freezing out, it gets frightening. Any
little uneven patch in the road...I mean natural waves and bumps that you
can neither see, nor feel when driving normally, cause it to sound as
though I've just driven into the biggest pothole in the state...and it reacts
just the same, and continues to bounce as though I have hydraulics. It's
constant. I found that leaving my car run for no less than 45 minutes before
doing anything does lessen the problem a bit, but, not for long. When I took
it to the shop for this issue, they just told me my undercarriage was full of
rock salt and it was jamming everything up--but them cleaning it out didn't
fix the problem. It's loud, eventually painful, and I'm quite positive that it
can't be safe. It just doesn't seem like anyone can figure out what it is...and
I'd really like to find someone who can help before that time comes again.
3. Not a huge issue, but, around the same time it stops starting, my radio
decides it wants to play musical chairs. I'll start it with no radio, five minutes
into my trip there's a loud "ZIP" and it's back....then a song and a half later,
it "ZIP"s out again. Usually only on more humid days. I've had my antenna
checked, and apparently there's no issue. I'm just puzzled.
I can't imagine I need a battery, starter, and alternator. But I don't know
what I'm dealing with here, so, any help is appreciated. Thank you!