Exploitation modern car comfortable and does not cause problems to the owner. If there are difficulties in normal daily tasks, the motorist usually does not know what to do with them. Therefore, service workers are already tired of telling funny stories that happen to them daily. The service is addressed on any issue that previously any car owner could easily solve on their own. Today we will talk about what could be the reasons bad start car engine in frost. These reasons are universal for all models, brands and periods of production of cars, so you should listen in order not to become the hero of the next funny story on the service. This will help you understand and resolve the issue in a timely manner before it becomes global and brings real destruction. Therefore, you should listen to certain tips and draw your own conclusions about the winter operation of a car.
Modern machines rarely break down without warning. Certain nuances in operation arise long before a real breakdown. It is winter that becomes the catalyst for all the major problems with the car. Certainly, winter operation can become a challenge even for the most modern foreign car. But most often, owners face problems. domestic cars or cars that have already been rolled in Russia for several years. Therefore, these recommendations will be directed more at motorists with such vehicles. Among the potential reasons for a poor engine start in cold weather, there may be factors unknown to you that not only complicate operation, but also significantly affect the wear of the main parts and components of the car. Pay attention to these recommendations and make sure that they do not apply to you.
Frozen fluids in the fuel system
Of course, this situation often concerns diesel engines. Enough to refuel bad fuel how it gels and solidifies in the tubes, delivering serious problems owner. Unfortunately, it is impossible to melt it back to its previous state, you will have to change the fuel wire or clean it at a special service. It will be nice if the nozzles remain intact.
You may also experience the following problems:
- liquid has accumulated in the fuel line from the same low-quality gasoline, and while parking on the street, it froze and turned into ice, clogging the pipe, this caused interruptions in the supply of gasoline;
- oil has thickened in the crankcase - most often this happens when the lubricant is not designed for operation in the conditions in which you are trying to operate it;
- in the filter housing froze low-quality fuel mixture- this is especially true for cars in which the filter is installed not in the fuel supply pipe itself under the bottom of the car;
- water got into the crankcase along with the oil, which froze or transformed the properties of the oil, the thickened mixture prevents the crankshaft from turning the pistons, it is impossible to start the engine.
In all these cases, fuel or lubricants you need to drain, clean the tanks, change filters and fill in new high-quality materials. Diesel fuel should be refueled only at proven gas stations and choose winter version, as the Russian winter can bring the most unexpected surprises. The diesel fuel frozen in the fuel line will become one of the most costly problems for diesel car.
The battery is problem number two.
Easier to solve, but also a more frequent nuisance, a shrunken accumulator battery. She sit down in winter time simply from increased loads and low temperatures. The activity of chemical processes inside the battery decreases when low temperatures, and when long-term parking The battery may even fail. Therefore, it is worth remembering the recommendations for using the battery in the cold season.
There are some important tips:
- if you have to park the car for more than 14 days, you can completely remove the battery from the car (if it is possible in your car), but make sure that the car will be safe, as the alarm will not work;
- when stored for the whole winter is worth finding warm garage or covered parking, you will overpay for parking, but save on the battery, which for such a period on the street will definitely fail;
- if the car has been standing for more than 5-7 days, do not rush to move the key to the starter start position, turn on the ignition and parking lights, wait 10-20 seconds and then start the motor;
- recharge the battery in time so as not to get into an unpleasant situation, and also change the battery in a timely manner if it is completely out of order and gives frequent malfunctions.
Battery replacement modern type 1 time in 3-5 years is quite normal mode. Only batteries of a rather large volume come out more on machines with conventional 4-cylinder engines. In winter, when too thick oil an increased load occurs on the battery, which makes each engine start very difficult. And trips in the city do not have time to give the battery a normal charge. So this phenomenon is quite natural.
Winter incidents - troubles and absurdities
Another cause of problems can be traditional winter malfunctions and ridiculous accidents. For example, you could back out while parking, drive back car in a snowdrift. into the hole exhaust pipe snow was packed, which caused blockage of the outlet channel. You turned off the engine and went home, and in the morning the car refused to start or stalled when it warmed up. It is worth freeing the pipe and trying to start again.
Also in winter there are such troubles:
- carburetor machines require increased attention during temperature changes, very often at temperatures from +1 to +5 a lot of condensate forms in the chambers, which leads to problems;
- the fuel sensor could stop working due to frost, and you happily drove the tank to the end of gasoline due to low fuel consumption, you need to check this moment;
- the electrical part gave itself, in the cold, electronics tend to show malfunctions and fail more often, very often the problem is associated with anti-theft, immobilizer and other details;
- the fuel pump is more likely to fail when it is cold outside, since this mechanism does not like changes in atmospheric conditions and humidity, which affects its operation.
Such troubles can happen to any car, but most often occur on cars older than 7 years. Age and high mileage contribute to the wear of certain elements and reduce the reliability of the machine. So don't be surprised if your age iron Horse showed the first signs of serious problems in the winter. This is quite normal.
Timing belt - real problems for not weak nerves
Very often in our time there are cars, the maintenance of which the owners do not pay absolutely no attention to. If the timing belt is not changed for more than 90,000 km, this will lead to its gradual stretching, cracking and final wear, followed by a break. Already at the stage of stretching, certain problems in operation may appear. The belt jumps a few teeth and knocks down the phases of the gas distribution mechanism. Bottom line - you turn the starter idle, the engine will never start.
If a belt break occurs, the problems will be as follows:
- the starter will start to spin easier, since the motor now does not need to provide energy to absolutely all the nodes connected to the timing, it will rotate with pleasure even at high speeds;
- if your engine implies protection against meeting valves with pistons, then there will be few problems, it will be enough just to change the timing belt and set up the gas distribution system again;
- in the event that elements collide in the engine when the belt breaks, expensive overhaul you are provided, sometimes it’s cheaper to just change the motor in such situations;
- the most harmful thing that can be done in these situations is to continue to turn the starter or try to start the car from the pusher, this will completely disable the engine and cause big problems.
Please note that the timing belt must be changed according to the regulations. As the car ages, service intervals need to be shortened. Also, a reduction will be required if you put non-original parts. If the belt has already jumped, simply returning it back is only a partial and temporary solution to the problem. It is better to replace it, as a stretched belt will definitely burst over time and cause a number of unpleasant problems.
What to do if the engine does not start in the cold
- Open the hood and make sure that the timing belt is intact, the spark plugs and wires are in place, the battery is properly connected and does not spark or smoke when trying to start the engine.
- Try a start attempt a few minutes after the first, but do not repeat this attempt 20 times, earning more and more problems for your car.
- Don't stay too long in the cold, close your car and find other ways to get around that will save your health and nerves, and take care of the car when you have free time.
- If you can’t leave the car, you should call a tow truck or call a friend with a working car and tow rope, transport the car to the garage or to the parking lot, you can immediately go to the service station.
- Fix the problem and provide normal work car for the future, so that you no longer face this situation. This will help you to operate the vehicle reliably.
We offer you to watch a video on the topic of winter engine start:
Summing up
The problem of starting the engine in cold weather happens in our time quite often. Car owners do not always maintain their cars properly, change all fluids and belts in due time. Therefore, there are problems that are extremely difficult to eliminate without outside help. If on the old VAZ you have the problems described above, you can fix almost all of them with your own hands. But on modern foreign car you will have to go to the service, while on a tow truck, and not on your own. So the costs in this case can be much more than you imagine.
Starting the engine in cold weather shows its performance. But do not forget also that such operation greatly harms the unit. In frosts below -15 degrees, wear of the main part power unit increases significantly. Therefore, you risk greatly reducing the life of the machine by reducing its resource. Therefore, sometimes it is better to abandon the car in favor of a taxi or other modes of transport. If you definitely need to go, remember about all possible problems and know how to eliminate or prevent them in difficult situations. In this case, you will be much less likely to get into trouble. Have you ever had trouble starting your car in cold weather?
January 25, 2016
With a sharp cold snap, every third car owner is faced with the problem of starting a frozen car. Even when the cold is not strong, a car that has stood idle for several days may not start. Forecasters promise residents of Moscow and the Moscow region a slight warming, but the winter is not over yet. Therefore, the problem remains relevant.
The MYMECHANIC team has prepared 6 typical engine starting problems:
1) Weak battery.Signs: Starter does not turn the engine. Clicks are heard instead of the sound of a twisting starter.
2) Starter malfunction.Signs: You are sure that the battery is working, but the starter does not turn.
3) Thickened engine oil.Signs: You are sure that the battery and starter are working, the engine turns with difficulty. The oil dipstick shows a thick consistency. The oil pressure light does not go out for a long time when the engine is started.
4) Fault fuel pump. Symptoms: In some vehicles, the corresponding indicator lights up. In the rear of the car (near the gas tank), when trying to start, the characteristic buzzing of the fuel pump is not heard.
5) Filled with spark plugs.Signs: Spark plugs are completely coated with gasoline.
6) Problems with the immobilizer.Symptoms: Car starts but fuel pump does not work, immobilizer light flashes.
Finding the problem is only the first step. But what to do next?
How to start the engine in the cold?
So, if you yourself have determined the reason why the car does not start, then feel free to proceed to the second part of the article.
1. Weak battery
Cause:
The battery does not hold a charge due to age (more than 3 years), battery defects or improper operation.
What to do:
- If the battery is weak, but responds to attempts to start the car, then try turning on the low beam headlights for 3-5 seconds. This will help "wake up" the battery, and on the next try it will give required amount energy.
- Check the battery terminals for dirt and oxidation. If you see contamination, clean the terminals.
- If you have a car with manual transmission, then ask someone to push the car.
- Try to light the battery from another car.
- Remove the battery and take it to a warm place to warm up.
- Effective and long-term measure - battery replacement
2. Starter failure
Cause:
Internal disturbances or misalignment, due to which the starter consumes a lot of energy, but at the output does not provide the power necessary to scroll the frozen engine.
What to do:
Only a professional diagnostician will determine the problem with the starter. One tip - before buying a starter, be sure to consult with the master. If the starter does not fit, you will have to carry it back to the store and buy another one. Our masters will start your car so that you can get to the car service and replace the starter.
3. Thick motor oil
Cause:
- At a temperature of 15-20 degrees, the oil "does not let" the moving parts of the power units.
- The oil is contaminated, does not meet temperature standards, or is of poor quality.
What to do:
- It is impossible to quickly change frozen oil. You need to either wait for warming, or warm the car in a warm room.
- At mechanical box gears, you can “drag” the car in tow for some time so that the shaft turns.
Prevention:
Monitor the quality of the oil by buying branded brands in trusted places with numbers in the 0W or 5W index, synthetics for new cars and semi-synthetics for cars with a mileage of 100,000 km or more.
4. Malfunction of the fuel pump
Cause:
The fuel pump fails “gradually” and this happens when the car is moving - it starts to poorly pump gasoline from the gas tank (pressure drops in fuel system) and the engine starts to "twitch".
What to do:
Change fuel pump. When replacing the fuel pump, it is better to install the original (factory) pump. It will not freeze (unless, of course, water has entered the gas tank). To replace the fuel pump, you do not need to take the car on a tow truck to the service. These works are easily performed by our mechanics on the road.
5. Filled with spark plugs
Cause:
The spark plugs are so dirty that the spark cannot get through to the ignition chamber. Or until other systems worked, gasoline was supplied to the combustion chambers and “filled” the candles, representing no air mixture, but a liquid.
What to do:
If the situation has not reached a critical level, then you need to temporarily stop trying to start the engine. Wait 3-5 minutes for the petrol to "drain". Turn the engine with the starter for 3 seconds, fully depressing the gas pedal, to “ventilate” the cylinders and try again. The driest cylinders can “grab” and pull the rest along with them. the method does not work on all machines remove the fuel pump fuse
6. Immobilizer problem
Cause:
Often, a standard immobilizer blocks the fuel supply because it “does not see” the key due to a dead battery.
What to do:
If this is a regular immobilizer, it is likely that the problem is in the battery. Do you remember the last time you changed the battery? If long ago, then without fail replace the battery in the key. Most likely the problem will be resolved.
The main thing to remember is that each case is individual, and if you do not have a clear understanding of the problem, it is better to contact professional diagnosticians. This will save time, and quite possibly money.
The closer winter is, the more often drivers will begin to face one of the main misfortunes of cold weather: because of the frost, the car will not start. tells what to do if, due to bad weather, the engine of your car refuses to work.
My car won't start. Why?
There can be many reasons. There are no absolutely identical situations. It happens that difficulties with winter start in a certain transport are caused not by one reason, but by several at once. But most often the car does not start in cold weather due to a dead battery. If you hear the starter spinning the engine lazily and getting worse with each attempt, then the battery is dead.
What to do if you can't start the car?
There are several ways to revive your vehicle and the battery in particular. The most traditional is to ask someone to "light up": connect your battery with special wires to the battery of another car that has already been started. You can ask for help from friends, acquaintances or use the services online portals where drivers offer mutual assistance to each other.
Cries for help “light up” in the community “accident and emergency” in the social network VKontakte How to "smoke"?
Everything is quite simple. To begin with, the driver of the donor vehicle must turn off the vehicle. Take two wires with clothespins, red and black. Connect red to the "plus" of the discharged battery, and then to the "plus" of the working battery. We connect the black cable to the negative terminal of the charged battery, and attach the other end to some metal part of the motor of your car.
Now ask the driver of the second car to start the engine and then start own car. If the motor has started, then all cables must be removed in reverse order.
Fired it up but the car still won't start. What's the matter?
If after two or three it was not possible to start the car, the problem must be looked for somewhere else. If you have diesel car, probably, the fuel turned out to be of poor quality and froze. In this case, you can only tow the car to a warm garage and wait. Among the others possible causes"death" of your car - problems with candles, ignition coils, filters. If you cannot determine the cause of the problem yourself, then it is better to seek help from a professional.
If you are short on time, you can always call a taxi and go about your business.
I don't want to ask anyone for help. Is there a way to revive your car yourself?
If you do not want to "light up", you can buy a portable launcher Charger- this is a box with wires that can serve as someone else's battery. If you have a stationary charger, you can take the battery home and charge it. But keep in mind that you will spend a lot of time on this.
Are there any preventive measures?
To protect yourself from problems with starting the engine in winter, you need to monitor technical condition vehicle, fill with low viscosity oil and refuel at proven gas stations.
Well, another winter has come. The first frosts revealed all the faults and weaknesses. It's cold and the starter won't turn over. There may be several reasons. But let's take everything in order.
1. Bad battery
The number one reason why a car won't start in winter is the battery. In most cases on modern cars maintenance-free batteries. For stable operation in battery banks should be enough electrolyte, which must have a certain density. If the density has changed, then the battery cannot hold the required charge. If in the summer you may not notice this, then in the cold the problem worsens and your battery refuses to perform its function. The solution to the problem is rather banal https://avtoapteka.net.ua/akkumuljatory/avtomobilnye-akkumuliatory go and buy a new one.
2. Thick engine oil
Today in any auto shop you will find a huge amount engine oils. Each oil has unique physical properties. As the temperature changes, these properties change. Roughly speaking, the colder it is, the thicker it is. Therefore, in severe frost, the oil turns into a “brake” for the rotation of the crankshaft. And if the engine is not very new, then the compression at startup is not enough to ignite. Therefore, a certain speed of rotation of the crankshaft is required to start, which does not happen due to frozen oil. Each driver solves this problem in his own way. Someone is buying preheater, someone fills in oil for the winter, which does not thicken even in frost. Here you need to know the features of your “iron horse”.
3. Power system problems
If you have good battery, the oil is filled according to the season and the crankshaft rotates normally ... but the car still does not start. That reason must be sought in the power system. At severe frost moisture contained in the fuel lines, gas tank, fuel filter and the fuel pump can be an insurmountable obstacle to the normal supply of combustion chambers combustible mixture. Therefore, be sure to try to refuel at proven gas stations.
4. Ignition system problems
If on diesel cars there is no ignition system and ignition takes place there due to compression, then in petrol cars without a spark in the candles, the engine will not start. At sharp drops temperature, moisture can condense in the most unexpected places. Of course, the elements of the ignition system are protected from condensation. But let's not forget about the peculiarities of our climate, when temperature drops can reach incredible ranges. Condensation causes oxidative processes, as a result, electricity does not reach its goal. If such problems occur periodically, then it is worth contacting an auto electrician who will find and fix weakness in the ignition system.
