Here we are: winter has set in with its procession of low temperatures, rain, snow and frost. For the motorist, it is the season of certain complications, especially if the car is no longer young, it must however last… However, in winter, if we do not pay attention , even just getting started is an ordeal. Here are some simple tips to make everything go smoothly, every morning.
Start the car. Source: spm
The season brings difficulties for your car. For “normal” use, it hardly shows up. On the other hand, with winter, these weaknesses will reveal themselves. If you haven’t taken your precautions, you really risk resorting to garages and spending a lot of money.
For you help to have the right reflexes and knowing how to react in all circumstances, let’s talk regarding starting in very cold weather. From this particular case, you will discover simple tips, to make this delicate moment, a “simple business that rolls”.
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First tip : If your car does not start: do not insist before you have understood what is causing the problem. Some parts of the car need to be checked: the batteriesthe starter, the timing belt, the spark plugs… For the most part.
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Important diagnostic points for a safe start
The candles : whether they are “spark plugs” for the gasoline engine, or even “glow plugs” for the diesel engine, they need to be clean and in good condition. If your diesel engine does eventually start and you have the weird feeling that it is running on “two or three legs”…It’s definitely a problem with the glow plugs. They need to be changed. It is done in batches of four, it is very counterproductive to only change the defective spark plug at the risk of causing an ignition imbalance.
The distribution belt : By lifting the hood, you will find it, at the front right of the engine, with its pulleys. It should be neat and clean, without laceration or the like, and not making noise. If you find such a problem, stop trying and call a specialist.
Car starter. Source: spm
The starter : It should make a normal sound…no rattling or popping noises. In this case, stop immediately. The part is so important for the battery and all the other organs. Its repair or replacement represents a significant budget.
Finally, the battery: if at startup there is no noise, then worry. If you test it with a small device, the voltmeter, the normal load is not there: 12 volts. With the start and the many electrical devices that work during the winter, the battery does not have time to recharge and loses power.
A few simple solutions for starting in extreme cold
If you cannot immediately undertake repairs to the other diagnostic components, it is possible to act in the event that the battery fails.
Car battery. Source: spm
It is important that you avoid using anything that can consume your vehicle’s battery before starting your vehicle. We are thus talking regarding heating, turn signals or even the radio. Wait a few seconds before starting the vehicle. If your car is stumbling and the lights come on, you can turn on your headlights for a few seconds then start by pressing the clutch pedal. If, on the other hand, the car does not start and the dashboard lights do not come on, it means that the battery is flat. In this case, it must be recharged.
To start, it is a question of giving him the little energy which he lacks. Hence the “crocodile clips”, or emergency terminals. Ask for help from another motorist. You will connect the clamps to the battery terminals. Allow time for the receiver battery to draw power, and start, with the host engine already running.
Rest assured if you can’t find anyone, then ask for help, to hiss the battery by starting the car “old fashioned”, pushing it, a gear engaged. Once the starter has acted, let the engine run until you arrive and plan to recharge the battery or change it.
Constant and rigorous maintenance allows you to start reliably in extreme cold.
By taking up each point of the diagnosis, far from being exhaustive, you have the basis of the elements to be checked and maintained.
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- The charge of the battery, and its operation;
- Controls on the starter;
- The belt ;
- The candles.
Add to this the control of engine oil levels, coolant and your fuel gauge. It is not safe to drive with an almost dry tank. The fuels are suitable for winter… yet you have to be careful.
You now know a few tips for winter mornings to overcome the observation: “the car won’t start “. Prepare your car for this period, control the important points regularly, and everything is will be fine!
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