You may face a case like that car starts slow when cold, which can be a disaster. Because if your automobile is difficult to start in the morning because of the cold, you may be late to work.
You must fix the issue and get back on the icy road as soon as possible.
To help you avoid slow starting your vehicle on a chilly morning, we’ve broken down the causes and provided solutions for your hard-starting car when cold.
Why Do Cars Start Lower In The Cold?
There are some reasons why your car struggles to start in cold. Here are some common causes:
Problems With The Batteries
Many drivers wish to avoid dead batteries but don’t realize that cold weather might drain their car’s battery until it’s too late.
This is because the battery can’t work without the chemical reactions that happen inside it.
These chemical processes slow down in cold conditions, leaving you with a battery that cannot provide sufficient energy flow for the ignition. As a result, the engine will have a slow start after that.
It’s conceivable that your vehicle’s battery is dead and has to be changed, but a faulty connection is also possible.
You should remove any rust from the electrical connections and again check the snugness of the battery cables.
Faulty Starter
The engine is kicked into gear by a starting motor. When the starter motor is malfunctioning, it might be challenging to start the engine.
Like the rest of the car, the starting motor will fail due to normal wear and tear.
Turning the key to the ignition and getting no response indicates starting issues with the starter.
If the dashboard lights are dim when you turn the key, the vehicle could start, although it will be challenging to maneuver.
Faulty Ignition Switch
The ignition switch is typically found inside the engine of a vehicle that runs on gasoline. The vehicle’s electrical components get electricity whenever the key is pushed in the ignition.
The ignition switch must be in excellent working condition for the engines to start and continue functioning correctly.
If the ignition switch becomes worn outside or damaged, your car takes a while to start when cold.
Wrong Or Too Thick Oil
When it becomes colder outdoors, the oil already in the engine will become more viscous.
If the engine oil is too thick, it will be more difficult to lubricate the engine’s moving parts and flow throughout the engine.
As soon as this occurs, the engine will have to work harder to move the oil.
Ultimately, this will cause difficulties for you both when you start the automobile and drive the car. Check that you are using what type of oil and the weight of oil should be used.
Another possibility is that you haven’t had your oil changed over such a long period that it has become thicker over time.
Be careful to have your oil changed at regular intervals, as advised by the vehicle’s manufacturer for the recommended oil change frequency.
A Defective Solenoid For The Engine’s Starter
The starting solenoid is the component of the starter system that is accountable for the transmission of an electric current. As time goes on, this cylindrical copper coil may get worn out.
If anything like this were to happen, it would be hard for the car’s electronic systems and engines to start up. So for the issue to be resolved, you will have to switch out this coil.
Lessening Fuel Evaporation
For the automobile’s engine to start up correctly, it must first vaporize the gasoline. On the other hand, accomplishing that goal would be challenging if it were chilly outdoors.
Because of the chilly temperature, burning fuel is much more complicated than it usually would be. In addition, vehicles that run on diesel see a change in their condition that resembles a gel.
When this occurs, the fuel travels more slowly than usual, which makes it much tougher to burn.
In addition, since it has the consistency of the gel, it does not flow uniformly throughout the system as it should.
How To Fix A Car Starts Slow When Cold
If your car has trouble starting when cold, you can try the following ways to resolve this starting issue.
Turn The Key To The On Position And Wait A Moment Before Starting The Car
Turn the key to the on position and wait a moment before starting the car.
There is no need to wait for the engine to warm up in a contemporary automobile with automatic fuel injectors before starting the engine and driving off.
However, to stay on the safe side, following the key turned to the on position, you should wait a moment (maybe long enough to fasten your seatbelt) before turning it back to the start point.
In that split second, the engine’s control module is surveying the environment for relevant data (such as the current temperature) and adjusting the engine accordingly.
As soon as you buckle in, the system is prepared for you to turn the ignition key and crank the starter to start the engine.
Switch Off All Electronic Equipment
Your temperature controls and the audio system would be useless without the power supplied by the alternator while the engine is running.
Because when the engine is turned off, however, the battery supplies electricity straight to those components.
Since the battery’s power is diminished by the cold, it’s best to disable as many components as possible before starting the engine.
Your battery may not be capable of starting the engine, playing music, heating the seats, and warming the cupholders simultaneously, despite its having enough power to do any of those things individually.
So shortly after starting the engine, switch these things back on.
Do Not Turn The Key For Longer Than Ten Seconds
When it’s really cold outside, gasoline might often flow more slowly, making the engine crank for a longer period before it begins. But don’t let the engine spin for more than 10 seconds at a time.
Because it takes a considerable lot of power applied rapidly for the starter to turn over the considerably heavier engine.
Overheating and damage might occur if you let this starter run for longer than 10 seconds. If necessary, let the engine crank for a few seconds, but avoid overworking it.
Putting your foot on the throttle isn’t necessary to start the engine of a contemporary automobile, but it’s worth a shot if the motor turns over but won’t fire.
You should only let the starter rest for a few seconds between tries.
Before Accelerating, You Should Let The Engine Heat Up
Assuming the road is clear after starting the engine (because temperatures this low usually necessitate waiting a few moments for the such defroster to do its job before attempting to embark), you may begin driving immediately.
Once the vehicle is started, putting it in drive and continuing to drive normally in severe cold weather poses no problems.
However, regardless of the adverse weather, it’s best to wait for the engine to achieve its ideal operating temperature before putting the pedal to the metal.
If the heating element remains in the blue, oil flow is subpar.
Normal city driving can be done at higher RPMs without overworking the engine, but if you need to merge onto the expressway or haul a trailer, you may want to let the vehicle warm up first.
Whenever, on the other hand, your travel is rather short, you need not bother about preheating the engine.
As long as you can see well and your hands are not frozen into useless fists, you should be OK to start driving.
Refuel Your Vehicle
Keeping your car’s engine well-oiled is important since low oil pressure may cause friction, which can harm expensive moving parts. In addition, you should ensure that you are using the correct type of oil.
When your car’s engine takes longer to start due to low oil, it’s not only the battery that suffers. Plus, your automobile won’t start if the batteries are cold.
You may avoid this by periodically checking the oil level in your fuel tank by using a dipstick and topping it up if necessary.
Engage The Clutch Throughout Ignition
To disengage the gearbox, press the clutch button while you put the key in the ignition. The starting motor will be the only component that requires electricity from the battery.
With the battery’s burden reduced, starting the engine from a cold start is more likely. Nevertheless, this strategy for a cold start is only applicable to automobiles with stick shifts.
Call For Help
You shouldn’t try to fix your automobile problems yourself unless you’re experienced in doing so.
If your car struggles to start when cold, you should contact a mechanic or repair shop for help.
When you can’t get your automobile started on a chilly morning, you may call a mobile mechanic to come to your house.
How To Avoid Problems When Starting Your Car In Winter
If you own a vehicle, here are a few things to do to get it ready for winter conditions and avoid a car having trouble starting when cold:
Protect The Vehicle
Both the engine and the automobile battery hate the cold. Therefore, try to maintain the automobile at a warmer temperature in the colder months.
Putting your automobile in a garage is the sensible choice. This garage would be ideal if it had heat, but we understand that this is not always feasible.
Park near a huge object if you don’t have access to a garage. An automobile will stay somewhat warmer if parked near a tree or a wall.
As an alternative, you may seek out a spot beneath a carport. These choices can make your vehicle a few degrees hotter than if you stopped in the open.
A vehicle block warmer or battery heater might be useful if you need to drive when the temperature is really low. These may keep your vehicle warm throughout, making it simpler to start in the morning.
Use The Correct Oil
The owner’s vehicle handbook for your vehicle will have specific recommendations for the kind and brand of oil to put in it.
Even though temperatures drop, most synthetic oils flow smoothly, provided they have the correct viscosity.
For instance, it has been recommended by manufacturers that 0W20 synthetic engine oil be used in Prius vehicles from 2010 through 2017.
Ratings for oils are based on how they perform at various temperatures.
The whole first number, followed by a “W,” indicates the grade for cold weather conditions in the winter condition. A lower value here indicates better flow in colder temperatures.
Take Special Measures to Start the Vehicle
Considering the harsh weather forecast, you may modify your driving strategy in the bright light of the chilly conditions.
However, with a few easy precautions, you may have better luck starting the automobile when the temperature drops.
First, ensure that no electrical components are active before starting the engines. The battery’s full capacity must be used for the engine to function properly.
Don’t keep attempting to start the engine by cranking the starter if you have already tried many times. Starter motor overheating is a common issue that may cause complications.
To avoid this, wait a few seconds for the engine to start and then try again.
Starter fluid worked well to pump the heart in an old internal combustion automobile, but it won’t do the trick in a modern vehicle.
The battery may respond to heat, though. So you should soak it in hot water or cover it in a shawl for at least one hour.
FAQs
Here are some questions relating to cars having trouble starting when cold.
Why Is It Growing More Difficult To Start My Car?
A defective battery or a bad starter are only two possible causes of a difficult start.
However, things might get more perplexing if your car has trouble starting after resting for even a short period. Insufficient fuel pressure is a frequent contributor to this problem.
If your car hesitates to start when cold, you can try some of the suggestions above or take it to a mechanic or repair shop to find out what’s wrong.
Why Is It Becoming Harder To Start My Car?
Fading or dead batteries, loose or corroded connecting cables, a defective alternator, or a malfunctioning starter are the most common reasons a car won’t start.
However, distinguishing between battery and alternator issues might be challenging in certain cases.
Conclusion
All in all, there are several potential causes, and your car starts slow when cold.
For example, there might be an issue with the oil or gas in your automobile, or some of the parts could break due to the reduction in temperature.
However, as is generally the case, it is preferable to prevent problems like these from ever arising.
If you follow our advice and winterize your car, you won’t have to struggle every morning to start the engine.