Why Does the Car Shake When Starting in Winter?
2 Answers
Winter car starting shake reasons are: 1. Low temperature: The exhaust pipe and oxygen sensor temperature is low, the vehicle ECU cannot obtain accurate data in time, causing errors in ignition and fuel-air mixture control, leading to weakened vehicle power output; 2. Car carbon deposits: Throttle carbon deposits have adhesion, preventing the fuel injection from reaching the required gasoline amount for combustion; 3. Spark plug aging: Different ignition gaps cause power deviations in each cylinder. Solutions for winter car starting shake are: 1. Let the car idle after cold start to allow the temperature to rise; 2. Clean the throttle and fuel injector; 3. Replace the spark plugs.
Last winter, my car often shook like it was dancing when starting, which was quite scary. I figured out that it was mainly because the low temperature made the engine oil thicker, leading to poor lubrication and making the engine harder to turn. At the same time, the battery voltage dropped, and the starter couldn’t power the entire system. Later, I switched to thinner winter-specific engine oil and regularly charged the battery, which reduced the shaking. A reminder to everyone: if the spark plugs are worn out or have excessive carbon buildup, they might not ignite smoothly in the cold, causing shaking. It’s important to check the battery life and oil grade before winter—don’t wait until you’re stranded on the road to panic. Long-term engine issues can worsen in low temperatures, so it’s advisable to do a comprehensive winter maintenance, including cleaning the air filter and checking the ignition coils.
