What Should You Do if Your Car Does Not Start in Cold Weather?

How to Start a Vehicle With a Dead Battery?

Cold temperatures are finally here as winter starts to set in for the season. Winter driving has many dangers and can also cause problems with your vehicle because of the below-freezing temperatures. One of the most common problems you may encounter with your car this winter is that it may not start in cold weather. When this happens, the cause is most likely a dead car battery. If your vehicle sits outside during the winter and is constantly subjected to cold air and wind, a dead car battery can be a very common occurrence. What should you do if your car does not start in cold weather? Keep reading to find out how you can start a vehicle with a dead battery so you don’t get left stranded away from home.

[You May Also Like: Winter Auto Maintenance Tips]

How to Jump-Start a Dead Car Battery?

As many drivers know, cold weather can be really tough on a vehicle, especially if it is left outside in the cold. This is particularly true when it comes to a vehicle’s car battery. When the temperatures drop, a car battery can have a very difficult time delivering enough power to start a vehicle. If your car battery isn’t able to generate enough power, it will not be able to start your vehicle, and you’ll be stuck with a dead battery. But, if you know what to do and how to handle the situation, you’ll be able to bring your battery back to life and start your vehicle. The following tips will help you learn how to safely jump-start a dead car battery so you can be on your way without delay.

• First, you’ll want to open your car’s hood and check the battery cables to ensure that they are all connected and secured. If they are connected and your car does not start, you’ll have to move on to the next step.
• Your next step is to park another car that is able to start beside the vehicle with the dead battery. Then turn off the engines of both vehicles.
• Next, pull out your jumper cables and connect them to the terminals of the vehicle that is able to start, with one end clamping to the positive terminal and one to the negative terminal. Then repeat this step by connecting the other ends of your jumper cables to the vehicle with the dead car battery. Tip: Cables from one vehicle to the other vehicle follow the rule of “positive to positive and negative to negative.”
• Finally, turn on the engine of the vehicle that is able to start and let it run for a couple of minutes. This will help charge up the other vehicle’s dead car battery. After a few minutes, hop into the vehicle with the dead car battery and turn on the engine. If it starts, you’re ready to go and can now disconnect the jumper cables from both batteries. If it does not start, repeat this step and give it a few more minutes before trying again.
• If the vehicle with the dead car battery still does not start after trying a few times, its battery might have seen its last day and will need to be replaced with a new one.

If you’re in need of a new car battery, please visit the service department at Terra Nova Buick GMC and we’ll be happy to help you find a new one that will help your vehicle start in the cold temperatures of winter.

[People Also Read: What’s In a Winter Car Emergency Safety Kit?]