There are many reasons why your car may not start in the cold; for example, cold weather can play havoc with your engine and affect the battery, fuel system, injectors, alternator and starter motor, or you may not be using the recommended oil in your car.
Typical symptoms
When trying to start your car, you may get no sound at all or a whining sound. If you get no sound, it is likely that a battery lead has come loose or the battery is flat. If the battery is totally flat, the ignition light will not work and the automatic door locks will not function. It could also be that the alternator is faulty and is not charging the battery when the car is running.
If you hear the starter motor turning the engine over but not firing up when you try to start the car, it is likely that there is a fuel system issue – possibly the injectors having issues as the fuel is not getting there due to ice particles or a blockage. It is advisable to get the injectors checked regularly using the services of a specialist such as https://odsautomotive.co.uk/injector-services-armagh/. If the injectors are at fault, using injector reconditioning Northern Ireland will solve the problem.
Possible solutions and preventative measures
If your battery is deemed to be the problem, you may be able to start your car using jump leads; however, you will need another car and long enough jump cables to give this a try. If the engine dies just after you have jump-started it, you are likely to have a faulty alternator. Alternator issues can also cause flickering lights or a burning smell in the car.
Modern cars have lots of equipment that use battery power, such as satnav systems, cameras or proximity sensors, and radio and mobile phone electronics. If the car is used for short journeys to the local shops and back, this will be a drain on the battery. It is advisable to go on long runs at least once a week to get the battery fully charged. Another thing you can do is turn off anything that uses the battery before turning off the engine.
Conclusion
There are many reasons why your car won’t start in cold weather. The most common are problems with the battery, alternator, starter motor or fuel injectors.