Why Doesn’t My Car Start When It’s Cold?

There are plenty of things that go wrong on any given day when it comes to automobiles. However, during this time of year you’ll notice that aging vehicles start to have more issues because of the temperature drop. Making people wonder things like, “why doesn’t my car start when it’s cold?”.

Because colder temperatures usually promote all sorts of issues on high mileage, aging, or tired automobiles, any underlying issues will usually be brought to the surface during our undoubtedly cold Metro Vancouver winter weather.

Today’s More Cash For Scrap blog post will explain why your car might not start when it’s cold, what to do about it, and where you can scrap your car for MORE cash if the root cause is catastrophic.

Why Won’t My Car Start When It’s Cold?

As a professional scrap car removal company that has been serving Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley since 2005, we know mechanical issues when it comes to vehicles.

And as such, we’ve heard every question under the sun. Including, “why doesn’t my car start when it’s cold?”. And the simple answer is, a lot of things can make it hard or impossible for your vehicle to start when it’s cold out.

Why Won’t My Car Start?

Why Won’t My Car Start?

When certain systems are failing on a vehicle, winter weather can make it particularly tough to get your car started. And it’s not simply because it’s so cold in our freezing British Columbia temperatures.

It’s because various components, fluids, and working parts can be hindered by freezing temperatures. Making it difficult, and even impossible to get your car started in the morning (or any time of day that is cold!)

Reasons Why You Can’t Start Your Car When It’s Cold

As mentioned, various things can be affected when temperatures change. And the fluctuations of temperature, whether cold or hot, can impact your car’s ability to perform at its best, or at all.

Most Common Reasons Why Your Car Won’t Start Include:

1. Battery Issues

Nothing tells you it’s cold out than a car that won’t start. Except for maybe a dead battery when it’s -10 Celsius outside… Which is often the perpetrator for why your car won’t start when it’s cold.

When the temperature drops, the chemical reactions that take place within your car’s battery function less efficiently. Making it harder, if not impossible, to start your car when it’s cold outside.

Furthermore, the drain applied to the battery is often greater when it’s cold outside because it uses more power to get your vehicle started. Especially when the defrost is set to run right away and your lights turn on automatically.

2. Fuel System Issues

An aging or high mileage vehicle can be prone to having fuel system issues. However, when it’s particularly cold outside, those issues can be magnified. Making it extremely difficult to get your car started in the winter.

Failing components like the fuel pump, a bad relay, faulty fuel injectors, or even bad gas can become worse when it’s cold out.

Recurrent issues like these often lead people to consider scrapping their car with More Cash For Scrap. If you’re tired of being stranded in the cold, contact our scrap car removal team today.

3. Bad Starter

Electrical issues don’t exactly thrive when it’s cold outside. Because the reality is that conductivity is lessened, and many connectors fail due to a lack of connectivity.

Which is part of why your starter may fail during the winter months in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Leaving you out in the cold with a big bill.

What was once a relaitvely cheap fix, is now upwards of $1200, depending on what type of vehicle you drive. Which is why as a professional scrap car buyer in Vancouver, we buy so many junk cars with bad, failing, or failed starters.

4. Alternator Issues

Another electrical issue that tends to get worse in colder weather is a failing alternator.

This is especially common on high mileage vehicles, aging vehicles, or vehicles that aren’t driven year-round.

Sign Your Alternator Is Failing Include:

• Dimming headlights
• Dimming dashboard lights
• Hard or delayed starts
• A new or worsening burning smell
• Frequent dead batteries
• Odd noises when trying to start your car
• Your battery light is illuminated or flickering

When electrical issues are on the rise in your aging commuter car, consider the scrap car removal services of More Cash For Scrap instead of repairs. Instead of emptying your pocket, you can put a little MORE cash back in it this holiday season!

5. Thick Engine Oil

Naturally, liquids freeze when it’s cold. However, liquids with more viscosity tend to not so much freeze, as they do thicken and subsequently slow down. Which is the case with your engine oil.

The colder the temperature, the thicker your engine oil gets. Which makes it harder to lubricate your vehicle’s engine.

Moreover, your car has a harder time functioning because the engine oil doesn’t flow as smoothly as it does in warmer weather.

6. Ignition System Issues

Your ignition system is comprised of many working and moving parts that all work synergistically together to start and run your vehicle at any given moment.

However, various parts of your vehicle’s ignition system feel an extra strain during colder temperatures. This includes your spark plugs, ignition coils, and all the wiring involved.

And if you’re driving an aging vehicle, spark plugs can become worn with high mileage. Which means that they are already not performing at their best.

Add some cold winter temperatures to that mix, and you’ll definitely notice that your vehicle is either hard to start in the winter, or impossible.

7. Corroded or Loose Connections

When your vehicle has corroded or loose connections in any part of it’s inner workings, your vehicle will noticeably perform less optimally.

However, if your vehicle has those issues and is parked outside during winter weather, or even in a garage that isn’t heated, it only compounds the struggles you may already be having with your aging vehicle’s connectivity issues.

At More Cash For Scrap, we love buying aging vehicles with mechanical issues, electrical problems, and even vehicles that simply need a LOT of maintenance work. Give us a call and find out what your junk vehicle might be worth.

Cash for Scrap Cars with Mechanical Issues

If that mechanical issue on your aging daily driver is giving you a headache, or if the cost to repair your car outweighs its value, consider More Cash For Scrap.

We make the process of scrapping an old, unwanted, damaged, or mechanically challenged vehicle quick and easy. And we do so while paying MORE cash for scrap cars than the other guys.

We provide free towing, same day scrap car pickup, and have the best customer service in the scrap car removal industry. Just call our team of junk car removal specialists to find out what your vehicle might be worth.

How Much Cash for Scrap Cars Do We Pay?

Every junk vehicle that we buy has a completely different value because every automobile is being scrapped for an entirely different reason.

To get an instant cash offer on your vehicle just provide us with the make, model, year, condition, mileage, and location of your car. Also, let us know if it’s still running because running vehicles are always worth MORE with us!

Once we have all that information, we’ll present you with an instant cash offer right over the phone. If you accept our offer, we’ll arrange to pick up your vehicle as quickly as possible (usually the same day).

Contact Our Scrap Car Removal Team Today!

If your commuter car is plagued with mechanical breakdown, or if that mystery electrical issue is draining your bank account, consider the scrap car removal services of More Cash For Scrap instead.

We provide a fast and effective way to scrap any junk car, scrap truck, scrap SUV or crossover, junk van, and even junk or worn-out commercial vehicles for MORE cash than most other scrap car removal companies will offer.

So, if you want MORE customer service. Along with MORE flexible scrap car removal times. And MORE cash for scrap cars than the other guys, choose More Cash For Scrap. We simply offer MORE!