Why Your Car Won't Start in Winter (And How to Fix It), by GusFixit on YouTube. 12 min 25 s.
- Video length
- 12 min 25 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Back your car into the driveway or parking spot before a storm. This gives you a clearer view when leaving and makes it easier to pull out through snow.
Wipe the rubber door seals dry and coat them with silicone spray or a rubber care product. This stops the seals freezing to the door frame overnight.
Cover the windshield and side mirrors with a mat or old blanket before ice and snow arrive. Remove it in the morning instead of scraping thick ice.
Clear snow from the roof, windows, headlights, mirrors, sensors and wheel wells before driving. Use a soft snow brush and never a metal shovel on paint or glass.
Check tire pressure with a gauge when tires are cold and top up to the door sticker figure. Cold weather lowers pressure, so check again after the first freeze.
Test the battery and charge or replace it if it is weak. Cold mornings expose a failing battery, so do not wait for a no-start morning.
Top up washer fluid with a winter mix rated for freezing temperatures and check coolant strength. Wrong washer fluid freezes on the glass and blocks your view.
Keep at least half a tank of fuel so you can idle for warmth if traffic stops. Add a jump starter, flashlight, blanket, warm clothes and a small shovel to the trunk.
Tips and common mistakes
Never pour boiling water on a frozen windshield, because the sudden temperature change can crack the glass.
Never run the engine in an enclosed garage, and keep the exhaust pipe clear if you are stranded in snow.
Never drive with snow on the roof, windows, headlights or mirrors, since it blocks your view and can slide onto other cars.
Check the battery and tire pressure before the first freeze, not on the morning the car will not start.
Questions
Why won't my car start on a cold morning?
Cold weather weakens a battery and thickens engine oil, so a battery that was already marginal often fails. Test or charge the battery before winter and keep a jump starter in the car.
How do I stop my car doors freezing shut?
Dry the rubber seals and coat them with silicone spray or rubber care. Also brush snow off the door tops so meltwater does not run into the seals and refreeze.
What should I keep in a winter emergency kit?
Pack a jump starter, flashlight, blanket, warm clothes, gloves, a small shovel and an ice scraper. Add a charged phone cable and some water in case you get stuck.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
