We will be soon experiencing the cold chilly winter with combos of hot cocoa, cozy sweaters, sluggish mornings Oh..!! and the car won’t start in very cold weather. Our car counters the cold weather head-on, and the deeper we are in winter, the slower it is. There are a variety of reasons for your vehicle to not fire up when the temperature drops. Among those let’s see how this cozy chilly winter freezes up the vehicle’s starting mechanism.
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Mechanism Of Car Starting
When you insert and turn the key or press the “start” button, the car’s starter motor will start and use the large current from the battery to power the engine. The starter motor is energized, it pushes out the pinion and meshes with the larger gear. When these two gears come together, they begin to rotate (hence the name “cranking the motor”), activating the piston.
The piston moves up and down, drawing air into the engine. In turn, the engine computer sends fuel to the engine’s cylinders. In the cylinder, the spark plug ignites the air-fuel mixture, causing combustion.
Unless all of these bits and pieces work together, it won’t burn out, which means your car (and you) have nowhere to go.
Reason For Your Car Won’t Start In Very Cold Weather
Listed below are some reasons for your car facing such issues and overcome your dilemma.
1. Problem With Car Batteries
We know that the battery of a car works by producing electric current. So in winter or cold weather, there is less current production due to the slower chemical reaction as compared to warm days which cause startup problems. This can be detected by the whining sound made when you turn the key in the ignition switch, resulting in dead battery life, caused by an exhausted battery or a loose battery cable. Other signs include the dashboard’s ignition light and the car’s refusal to unlock with a remote central lock.
2. Problem With The Car Fuel System
Over time, automobile fuel systems may become contaminated with water. This is the main cause of combustion problems for your car won’t start in very cold weather. Water freezes in cold weather and causes engine dysfunction. Normally, if there is moisture, the fuel line may freeze and block, making the engine unable to start. In some cases, if you are dealing with a diesel operator, be aware that it may take some time for the operator to “get” the diesel in the winter morning to transfer power to the engine to start.
3. Problem With Engine Oil
In cold weather, engine oil thickens and does not flow around the engine. This means that it is more difficult for the pump to pass through the engine block, which puts additional pressure on the battery. If the battery level is already low, this may cause it to not start. In cold conditions, the free flow of oil will also decrease. If your Oil has too high a cold viscosity (resistance to flow), you will not be able to start the car in cold temperatures.
4. Car With A Carburettor Problem
The carburetor is susceptible to the cold, mainly because of the small nozzle. The nozzle can become clogged and ice can be deposited without evaporating moisture. Most cars these days don’t have carburetors, so don’t worry if they were manufactured in the last 20 years. This can be one of the most disturbing reasons for your car won’t start in cold weather.
What To Do If My Car Faces Problem To Start In Cold Weather?
Don’t panic if you have problems booting from the cold of the car! To try again, try the following methods.
1. Switch-Off Everything
Ensure that all of your standard electrical accessories, such as headlights, heaters, and radios, draw power from the battery, are all in the “off” state so that they do not draw power from the battery and motor.
Now insert the key into the ignition switch and turn it, the car will give the battery a better chance of starting the engine. If your engine starts, let it run for a while before reopening any of these accessories, otherwise, you risk running out of battery again. If this strategy does not work the first time, please wait a while and try again.
2. Battery Jumpstart
If the previous trick didn’t work try this tricky method which can work sometimes. Ask your friend, neighbor, or anyone near you to help you out. One of you handles the jumper cable. Position a vehicle that starts and runs normally. Connect the positive pole (red) of the car does not start. Connect directly to exposed metal on the positive battery terminal or clip.
Next, place the positive electrode on the donation cart and reattach it to the terminal clamp, check the electrical connection by turning the key on. This technique is efficient as the amount of battery’s work reduces providing a chance for the engine to fire up. If jumpstarting your car also didn’t solve the problem then check the list below.
3. Engine Oil Changing And Filling Of Car
If the oil level is low, it will put more pressure on the battery to start the engine. If the battery is cold or in a non-optimal state at the beginning, it will never go wrong. Check the oil level, if it seems low, refill it before trying to start the engine again which is why your car won’t start in very cold weather.
If there is water in your car’s fuel line, then get advice from a professional to flush the system. To prevent the freezing of water so alcohol keeps the water suspended and then draining it through the tailpipe.
Unsuccessfully, if this doesn’t work out, it’s really time to call that malfunctioning service.
How To Protect Your Car In Very Cold Weather?
Precaution is better than cure right? So, why not do the same with our cars? Below are some precautions to be taken beforehand having such problems.
1. Keep In A Warm Place Overnight In Cold Weather
If you don’t like the battery and engine oil to be cold, it’s always easiest to keep it warm, even if it’s not the most practical. Some potential interpretations may include parking the car in a heated garage as it will keep the engine warmer as compared to that parking outside. If you don’t have a garage then park next to a building or a big tree. If possible you can also park inside a carport as it helps the outside as well as the essentials components from extreme temperatures, protecting internal operation inside your car.
2. Use A New Battery In Place Of The Old One
If your battery isn’t working properly then please consider getting it changed from the nearest garage. It may be costly but also worthy as it prevents you from getting your wallet more strain in a future cold morning. Also, perform a regular check on your battery to ensure a clean terminal and the leads are secure and solve your problem of the car not starting in very cold weather.
3. Change And Use Correct Oil
Consult your owner’s manual and check what type of oil is used in cold weather and buy a new oil if you are not using the oil prescribed in your manual.
4. Have A Regular Check On The Fuel Tank
Auto parts stores and gas stations sell dry gas and diesel fuel conditioners for petrol cars, respectively, to help combat freezing of fuel lines or gelation in the case of diesel cars. Occasionally consider using a dry gas bottle or using all tank regulators on diesel. However, check with your gas station before putting anything else in the fuel tank, as they may contain these additives directly from the fuel pump.
It is important to understand that cold can not only temporarily disable the battery, but can also permanently damage it. Therefore, once you need a jump-start, you need to check the battery status as quickly as possible.
Is It Ok For A Car To Crank In Cold Weather?
This is 100% normal and there is nothing to worry about. Just check your owner’s manual to make sure you’re using the correct weight of oil (this is something you can discuss with your mechanic or whoever changes your oil).
It is important to make sure that you are using the oil specified by Honda for your vehicle. Several cars have a tenancy to start and run slower than usual in a cold-weather as the drop in temperature weakens the battery and also thickens the oil making the engine harder to start.
Conclusion
For a working car having a good battery life is very important and so is maintaining the battery. In cold weather, it is very common to face this problem so to avoid and overcome this situation you can follow the above steps mentioned.
Keep a regular check on maintaining the battery and replace it if necessary. This will help you overcome the problem so you may not get affected by a dead battery and struggle winter morning.
Stay Safe and Keep Driving and Enjoy a hassle-free morning.
Thank You