Winter brings enormous challenges for maintaining our vehicles. From dealing with frozen windows and locks to low tire pressure and fluctuating oil levels, keeping your car running smoothly during cold weather can be tough. But the most challenging task you will face is to start your car, especially if you live in areas with harsh winter conditions. However, with the right tips and tricks, you can ensure your car starts smoothly and efficiently. In this article, we will provide practical and proven tips to help you start your car in cold weather with no issues. Whether you’re facing a cold winter morning or dealing with sub-zero temperatures, our tips will help you get on the road safely and with no hassle. So, read on to learn.
In this article:
1. Signs That Your Car Battery Is Frozen & Dying In Winters
2. What To Do With A Dying Car Battery On A Cold morning?
- Turn Everything OFF
- Clean Your Car’s Battery Terminals And Tighten Up The Clamps
- Charge The Battery
- Warm Up The Battery
- Jumpstart The Car
3. Tips To Avoid A Dead Car Battery During The Winters
1 Signs That Your Car Battery Is Frozen & Dying In Winters
Cold weather slows down the chemical reaction in the car battery, leading to decreased performance and complete failure. Some of the most common indicators for a failing or dead battery include:
- Slow engine cranking
- Dimming lights
- Electrical issues
- Clicking sound when you turn the key
- Backfiring
- Warning light on the dashboard
If you are facing any of these issues, it is time to get the car battery checked or replaced. Regular maintenance and precaution can help you avoid the inconvenience and safety risk of a dead battery in extreme winter weather.
2 What To Do With A Dying Car Battery On A Cold morning?
If your car doesn’t start on a cold morning, it’s probably because your car’s battery lacks enough power to turn the engine on. To start your car, you need to wake your hibernating car battery. Follow these steps to get your car on the road in the easiest way possible, even in the frigid cold conditions, and enjoy the ride.
Turn Everything OFF
When ON! Your car uses a lot of its power for running headlights to heaters, that’s a lot of work! So turning OFF everything will give enough space for your car’s battery to settle in. Then you can try turning on the vehicle.
💡Pro Tip: Dipping your clutch slightly as you turn the ignition on reduces the considerable amount of work your battery has to do. It gives your car’s engine a fair chance to turn up, ensuring better winter driving.
Clean Your Car’s Battery Terminals And Tighten Up The Clamps
A corroded battery has a thin layer of salty and crusty substance stuck on the cable and in between the Clamps and battery cables that are clearly visible in frigid temperatures. Therefore, car owners are advised to get rid of this by cleaning it thoroughly. This could be done by bruising the ends with a potent mixture of baking soda and distilled water. As you clean up, remember to check for loose connections and leave no loose ends.
Warning: Follow proper safety measures to avoid getting an electric shock.
Charge The Battery
Battery charge depletes faster during winter. If the battery is dead, you can try charging it using a battery charger or driving the car for a while to generate enough power to start the engine.
Warm Up The Battery
If the battery is frozen, try warming it up using a hair dryer or pouring warm water over it. Doing so would keep your car’s battery warm during the frigid temperatures.
Jumpstart The Car
Jump-starting your car gives a sudden boost to your car’s dead battery. This could be done in two ways: one is by lending a helping hand from any nearby vehicle where you connect the jumper cables to the battery terminals, following which you are all set to jump-start your car. Another way is to kick-start your car is by using a jump starter. It is advisable to keep a portable jump starter in the trunk of your car.
💡Pro Tip: Use a Battery Blanket
If you are living in a frigid zone that’s frequently hit by winter storms, it is better to find a permanent solution to deal with a battery discharge problem. For that, you can invest in a battery blanket. These blankets are specially designed to keep the battery warm and prevent it from freezing and depleting during the winter weather.
3 Tips To Avoid A Dead Car Battery During The Winters
Although car batteries can die because of multiple reasons, they are most likely to die during the winter months. The reason for this is a reaction between liquid electrolytes and lead plates inside a car battery, producing an electric charge. The good news is car owners can preserve their car batteries throughout winter in several ways. Here are some winter care tips to prevent your car’s battery from dying, follow these to save your hard-earned money.
- A corroded battery terminal can eat up your battery completely. Hence, it is always better to keep a check on your battery health and maintain it in good condition to prevent it from any sort of corrosion and protect your battery.
- Park your vehicle in the garage if possible. If you don’t have a garage, at least park your car with the front facing away from the main flow of the wind.
- You can always purchase a battery blanket to prevent the battery, especially during winter storms.
- Get your car battery tested over a period of time
- Lookout for the warning signals
Starting your vehicle in Canadian weather can be challenging, but with the right tips and preparation, you can do it smoothly and safely. Always equip yourself with the necessary tools like battery jump starters, and battery cables to avoid any hassles. By following the abovementioned tips, you can ensure that your car will start easily and you can stay safe on the roads during the cold Canadian winter.
