Starting Your Car in the Cold

During frigid morning drives in Illinois, all you want to do is get going! So, why won’t your car start when it’s cold? Sometimes, your car won’t start when it’s cold but starts when warm. Other times, it won’t start at all. Luckily, the service team at Sam Leman Automotive Group is here to help you diagnose and fix the problem for good. Let’s go over some common questions, like “Why won’t my car start when it’s cold?” and “What is a cold start car jump?”

Why Won’t My Car Start When It’s Cold?

Sometimes, your car won’t start when it’s cold but starts when it’s warm, and it just needs a little extra time to get going. Other times, your car has sluggish performance consistently throughout the winter season. There are a variety of reasons that this can happen, so it’s important to get an inspection at a service center. 

Let’s start with some of the most common reasons why the cold is hard on your vehicle:

• Battery Output: Car batteries are usually less efficient in the cold than the heat. Hot weather speeds up the chemical reaction that produces electricity, while cold weather slows it down.
• Engine Oil: Engine oil is also affected by the temperatures. In the cold, it becomes thicker and doesn’t flow as easily throughout the engine. This can cause the engine and battery to work even harder than usual.
• Fuel Line: Moisture can form in fuel lines and then freeze, which blocks the flow of fuel to the engine. If you drive a diesel truck, diesel can gel in colder temperatures. Both hinder performance.
• Carburetor: The small nozzles of the carburetor can easily become clogged, preventing moisture from evaporating. This is primarily an issue of older vehicles.

What are Some Tricks for Starting a Car in the Winter?

If your car won’t start when it’s cold but starts when it’s warm, you might need to give it a little extra help:

• Turn off all unnecessary electrical systems to avoid straining your battery. This allows your battery to deliver the most power possible.
• Dip the clutch when starting the car. This also removes strain on the battery, which gives you a better chance of an easy start.
• Check your battery for signs of corrosion. Take a look at the terminals and cables for any powdery residue, which is removable with solutions from our parts department.
• Check your engine oil levels. If you’re running low, top off your oil and see if that improves your vehicle performance.

If your vehicle fails to start, then it might be time to try a cold start car jump.

What is a Cold Start Car Jump?

A cold start car jump is necessary when your vehicle simply won’t turn on. What is a cold start car jump? A cold start car jump is the same as your standard jump start, but it occurs in freezing temperatures. You’ll need a pair of jumper cables and a good Samaritan with a working car to help you.

• Park both cars with the hoods facing each other. Ensure the cars are close enough together so the cables can reach the batteries without touching. Turn off both vehicles.
• Attach one of the red jumper cables to the positive terminal of the good battery. 
• Attach the other red jumper cable to the battery of the car that won’t start. 
• Attach the black jumper cable to the negative terminal on the good battery.
• Attach the remaining black cable to an unpainted metal surface on your vehicle. 

• Ask whoever is helping you to start their car, and after a few minutes, start your own car.
• If the cold start car jump worked, thank your helper and remove the jumper cables in the opposite order listed above.
• Keep your car running for 10-15 minutes to allow the battery to charge.

Schedule Service at Sam Leman Automotive Group

Whether you need a set of winter tires or a new emergency car kit, the team at Sam Leman Automotive Group has you covered. As always, feel free to contact us with any questions about winterizing your vehicle. If you need to schedule a service appointment, we have multiple locations in Bloomington, Peoria, Morton, and Champaign.