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My Car Won’t Start in the Cold- Here’s Why and What to Do 

Your car won’t start in the cold, quite often at the most unexpected moment, at the time of necessity. Winters and cars often don’t get along well, and the situation worsens when there are no available vehicles or taxis at the rescue.

Also, low temperature affects the car adversely, reflecting in the car’s poor performance. Ultimately, this means you’ll have to postpone all your activities for the day and look for other alternative ways to travel. These are the most common problems you are likely to face if your car won’t start in cold.

Reasons Why Your Car Won’t Start in the Cold 

Less electrical current production

Car won’t start in the cold on days when there is less current production. Also, on such days the chemical reaction is comparatively less. Cold batteries have less current production than warm ones and can cause starting issues.

Thickening of engine oil

Thickening of engine oil is another major problem that usually happens. As a result, it becomes difficult to pump the oil into the other parts. There are also chances of the oil sticking to the engine parts and affecting the car’s performance.   This sticky oil makes it difficult for the batteries to pull in so much oil. Hence, the low power of batteries can cause a slow start of the engine.

Moist fuel lines

The car won’t start in the cold if there is a fuel blockage during the winters. Fuel often gets blocked and frozen due to moisture accumulation. This moisture can also be ice or snow, which may accumulate in the fuel lines as a gel. As a result, it takes the engine longer than usual to start. Also, there are chances of the engine sputtering and dying soon with moist fuel lines. The main reason for this is the condensation of fuel tanks.

Improper working of carburetor

Carburetors are now nowhere found. They were something commonly found in old cars. With an improperly-working carburetor, the car won’t start in the cold. This improper working also means that the probabilities of clogging the carburetor are more. However, modern cars don’t have such a problem often as they consist of a fuel injection system.

What to do if your car won’t start in the cold? 

There are some easy steps to follow if your car won’t start in the cold:

Start over

If your car won’t start in the cold, try to start over. Firstly, turn off all the electrical accessories, including headlights, heaters, and radios. Then try to make a fresh start. Once the engine starts over, keep it on for a while.

Check headlights and foot lamps

Fog and mist always make the headlights crack and fall. Similarly, there are chances where moisture can accumulate in the headlights and the fog lamps. As a result, the brightness gets reduced drastically. The wavering brightness is another issue that adversely affects your car’s performance. Hence, it is best not to put on headlights when the weather is cold.

Go for roadside assistance

Before you try anything else, hold the ignition key for a while. Ignition is one of the most manageable steps to follow if your car won’t start in the cold. If it still doesn’t work, seek expert help immediately to overcome the problem.

What else should you do if your car won’t start in the cold? 

Place a dehumidifier

If you think your car won’t start in the cold, try using a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier helps remove all the moisture content from your car and keep it dry. Usually, it is combined with car fresheners and collects moisture from inside perfectly. This keeps your car warm and dry at all times. Therefore, it also allows the moist air to escape from time to time.

Replace your battery

Car batteries are always prone to damage. Therefore, to keep your battery safe, keep checking the voltage consistently. While doing so, plug in all the wires and ensure that the batteries are in good condition.

Other steps to follow if your car won’t start in the cold 

Check your car battery often

Make sure that your car batteries are always in good condition. Keep it ready for all seasons. When you use the batteries for a while, they tend to discharge. Hence, if you cannot charge your vehicle, switch off the engine and all power-consuming parts of the car. Similarly, switch off the power-consuming parts before ignition.

Keep your car protected

Remember to keep your car in the garage, especially in winters. If not a garage, you may also choose a carport, a shade, or a parking slot of a building to park. Also, while parking, make sure to use a car cover, else your car won’t start in the cold. This way, all the sensitive parts are kept intact.

Invest in a block heater

As you know, your car won’t start in the cold. So, remember to keep your car warm. In other words, keep the engine hot like a kettle filled with water. With ample fuel and no pollution, your car should be able to maintain its temperature. Ample fuel also offers you warmth and comfort during your travel, and all the more, there is significantly less power consumption in the process.

Keep the moisture out

Try to park your vehicles in a safe space. Secondly, minimize the power when the engine is not running. Also, remember to keep your car batteries clean and dry. Clean batteries ensure long-term usage of the battery. Furthermore, it reduces heat exposure and helps to keep the temperature low.

Your car won’t start in the cold, and this is always a significant issue that you may come across anytime. In such instances, stay calm, follow the right solutions, and make your car safe. 


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