Tip #3: In extreme cold, crank in short bursts and turn everything off first
On a bitter morning, switch off every electrical load, crank for a few seconds at a time with a rest between attempts, and do not pump the gas on a modern car. If it still will not catch after a few tries, stop before you flatten the battery completely.
Tip #3 in one line
On a bitter morning, switch off every electrical load, crank for a few seconds at a time with a rest between attempts, and do not pump the gas on a modern car. If it still will not catch after a few tries, stop before you flatten the battery completely.
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Call nowGive the starter all the power there is
Before you turn the key or press the button, make sure the heater fan, headlights, rear defroster, heated seats and radio are off. Every one of them draws from the same battery the starter needs. Many cars shut some loads off automatically during cranking, but not all of them.
If the car has a manual transmission, pressing the clutch while cranking can reduce the drag on the starter. Check the owner's manual for anything your model recommends for cold starts.
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Call nowCrank smart, not long
Crank for a few seconds, then stop and wait about a minute before trying again. Long continuous cranking overheats the starter and drains the battery faster than it helps. The rest lets the battery recover a little between attempts.
Do not pump the accelerator. Modern fuel-injected engines manage the mixture themselves, and pumping the pedal can work against that. Older carbureted cars are different, which is another reason to check the manual for your specific vehicle.
If the car finally catches, let it idle briefly before driving off gently, and keep electrical loads modest for the first few minutes. A start that took several tries tells you something; plan to have the battery tested soon rather than hoping tomorrow goes better. Cold mornings tend to come in runs, and each failed start takes a little more out of a weak battery.
Listen to what changes. If the crank gets slower with each try, the battery is losing. If the engine spins briskly but never fires, the problem may be fuel or ignition rather than the battery, and a jump will not fix it.
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Call nowHelp it before the cold arrives
Park in a garage when you can, even an unheated one. Keep the tank at least half full in winter. Diesel owners should follow the manual on winter fuel and, if the vehicle has one, use the block heater on the coldest nights.
If it will not start after a few rounds, stop. A jump start with a professional pack and a battery test is one flat price, quoted when you call (908) 444-0129. If the trouble is not the battery, the dispatcher can quote a tow to your mechanic instead. The jump start guide covers what the technician checks.
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Call nowMore on winter
Keep reading, or go back to every post on the blog.
- Tip #1: The first cold morning is when a weak battery quits
- Tip #4: Stuck in snow, stop spinning the wheels and check the tailpipe
- Tip #5: Clear the roof, hood and lights before you drive; New Jersey law requires it
- Tip #6: A frozen door is usually ice in the seal, not a broken lock
- Tip #7: An iced-over car needs ten extra minutes, not a hammer
- Tip #90: Replace wiper blades before they streak, and clear the whole car of snow
- What to do when your car breaks down in New Jersey
- Flatbed vs wheel-lift towing: which does your car need?
- All posts
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