How to Solve the Problem of Car Not Starting in Cold Weather?
3 Answers
Solutions are as follows: 1. When the battery is dead, you can ask someone to help jump-start the vehicle. 2. If the throttle is frozen, you can use a hairdryer to melt the ice on the throttle. 3. When the engine temperature is too low, you can turn the vehicle to the power-on position, and then a "heating wire" symbol will appear on the dashboard. Wait until the heating indicator light goes off, and the vehicle can start normally. How to jump-start a car: 1. Car jump-starting requires a rescue vehicle. Park the two cars facing each other and prepare two charging cables. 2. Open the hood and connect the positive and negative electrodes of the two car batteries with the charging cables. 3. Let the rescue vehicle's engine idle and try to start the dead car. If the battery is dead, the car should start quickly, and then the generator will charge the battery.
My car won't start in winter, and I live in the northern region where I face this problem every year. The most common reason is a frozen battery; in extremely cold weather, the battery power drops quickly, especially with older batteries that are more prone to failure. Once, at minus 20 degrees, my car also refused to start. I tried various methods: first, jump-starting the battery with another car, or parking it in a warm indoor space for a few hours to let it recover. If the battery is fine, check if the spark plugs are dirty or have carbon buildup—cleaning them sometimes helps. The fuel system is prone to condensation in low temperatures, so adding some antifreeze to the fuel tank can prevent freezing. I recommend getting a full check-up before winter, replacing the battery with a new one or installing a battery insulation sleeve to reduce unexpected issues. Remember not to crank the engine too many times to avoid burning out the starter. If all else fails, call for professional roadside assistance—safety first.
When your car won't start in cold weather, focus primarily on battery issues. I've found that oxidized or dirty battery terminals can block current flow - gently clean them with sandpaper and tighten the connections. In freezing temperatures, engine oil thickens and hinders starting, so switching to lighter winter-grade oil beforehand helps significantly. If you hear clicking sounds without ignition, check whether the starter is stuck or worn out. A simple DIY solution is using jumper cables to borrow power from another vehicle, being careful not to reverse the polarity. For prevention, drive the car weekly to recharge the battery and avoid complete discharge from prolonged parking. When temperatures drop below freezing, pre-warm the engine for 10 minutes before ignition to improve efficiency. Accumulating these maintenance practices ensures more reliable winter driving.
