Winter Driving: When Your Car Won't Start in Cold Weather

Last Tuesday morning, I got five calls before 7 AM from drivers whose cars wouldn't start. The temperature had dropped to 8 degrees overnight, and suddenly half of Woodridge was dealing with dead batteries and frozen engines.

Here's the thing about winter that most people don't realize: your car battery loses about 60% of its strength when temperatures hit freezing. Add in the extra power needed to turn over thick, cold oil, and you've got a recipe for being late to work.

What Actually Happens in the Cold

When it's freezing outside, your engine oil becomes thicker, making it harder for your starter to turn the engine over. Meanwhile, your battery is struggling to provide the extra power needed. It's like asking someone to run a marathon while breathing through a straw.

Most batteries that fail in winter were already weak. The cold just pushes them over the edge. If your battery is more than three years old and you've noticed slower starts, winter weather will likely finish it off.

Your Winter Game Plan

Keep jumper cables in your car, even if you have roadside assistance. Sometimes help is 45 minutes away, and a neighbor with a good battery can get you moving in five minutes. Just make sure you know how to use them properly – wrong connections can fry your car's electronics.

If jumping doesn't work, don't keep trying to start the engine. You'll drain the battery completely and potentially damage the starter. Call for professional help instead. Our emergency towing service has heated trucks and professional-grade jump starters that can handle even the most stubborn winter starts.

The best defense is preparation. Have your battery tested in the fall, keep your gas tank at least half full to prevent fuel line freeze-ups, and consider a battery blanket if you park outside regularly. A little prevention beats an expensive tow truck call on a freezing morning.