What to Do When the Car Won't Start in Winter?
2 Answers
There are generally three main reasons why a car may not start in winter: 1. Some fluids in the car deteriorate or freeze, blocking the fuel lines and increasing engine resistance, making it difficult to start. 2. Short-distance driving causes condensation near the exhaust pipe due to temperature differences, which can freeze the exhaust pipe, leading to poor exhaust emission and preventing the car from starting. 3. The battery loses power quickly in low temperatures, making it difficult to start the car. To address these three issues, the following solutions can be applied: 1. Visit a 4S shop to check if the engine oil is suitable for winter use and replace it if necessary. 2. Push the car to a warmer location or use a hot water bottle to melt the ice in the exhaust pipe before starting the car—never use an open flame to heat the exhaust pipe. 3. Maintain the car battery and perform regular fault inspections.
I just went through this frustrating issue with my car last week! On a freezing morning, the engine simply refused to start no matter how many times I turned the key, and the dashboard lights were noticeably dimmer. The most likely culprit was the battery giving out – cold temperatures can reduce battery capacity by 30%. At -10°C, an old battery simply can't hold a charge. I eventually got it started using a jump starter. Also remember to check the battery terminals – greenish-white crystals indicate acid leakage corrosion, which needs to be cleaned with baking soda solution. When jump-starting, always connect positive to positive and negative to negative, and turn off all electronics before making connections. If your battery is 3-4 years old, replacing it before deep winter is the safest bet. Look for models labeled with 'cold cranking amps' – you can't go wrong with those.
