With winter around the corner, it only translates to more and more car problems and it certainly gets worse when you need to be somewhere and your car suddenly dies. There are plenty of reasons why your car struggles to start in winter mornings. Take a look at a few top reasons for facing common winter cars problems.
6 Most Common Winter Car Problems
1. Dead Battery
A typical lead-acid car battery loses approximately 10% of its charge capacity during winters. It can also lead to a completely dead battery. There are numerous cases of dead car batteries during winters. Also, if your car battery is older than five years, then we highly suggest installing a new battery to avoid any unexpected breakdowns.
2. Low Tyre Pressure
For every 10-degree temperature drop, the car tyre pressure drops one psi during the winters. Also, a sudden temperature shift can cause the compounds in the car tyre to soften and crack. The only solution to this problem is to check the tyre pressure every week. Therefore, we also suggest investing in a 12v portable car tyre inflator, as it is very helpful.
3. Thick Fluids
Falling temperatures implies increase in density and viscosity of various different car fluids like engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant and even the wiper fluid. This causes them to work less efficiently and might also lead to a significant loss in power. This can also be a reason behind the wear out internal seals and gaskets.
4. Cracked Spark Plugs
Spark plugs are responsible for igniting the air-fuel mixture inside the combustion cylinder. But due to the extremely cold weather conditions the ceramic spark plugs have the tendency to crack or corrode. Also, a worn out or bad spark plug will reduce the car’s efficiency. In addition to this, the cold weather can also cause the electrode on the spark plug to wear out causing starting problems.
5. Worn Alternator Belt
An alternator is responsible for charging the battery that in turn powers all the electronics in the car. But in case if you have a faulty alternator there are high chances that it can lead to battery and electrical issues. The chilly weather conditions can cause the alternator belt to crack. If at all you hear a high-pitched squeal during start-up, there is a high probability of a worn alternator or a timing belt. It is recommended to inspect and replace immediately.
6. Weak Starter Motor
Starter motor is responsible for starting the motor. It is during the winters, the starter motor has to work hard to turn the engine, that in turn puts a lot of stress on it. There is nothing much you can do about this except predict its failure. Thus, you should avoid cranking the engine continuously and give it at least 30 seconds before starting. Also, you can check for corrosion on the starter terminals and make sure that it is well insulated from any moisture and keep the battery in good shape for a healthy starter motor.
Above discussed are some of the common winter car problems, that can trouble you. So, make sure that you take care of your car and follow all the precautions required.
