Cold weather starts

It's winter and cold; you don’t want to get out of bed, let alone deal with a car that doesn’t want to start.

The annoying click of a flat battery is the last thing you want on a chilly winter’s morning.

The reality is your car feels the same way.

While it would be great to go back to bed and ignore the car simply, your boss probably would disagree with your action plan, so we put this article together to assist you.

We may not get the sub-zero temperatures that winter brings to some parts of Australia.

We have some tips to help you start your car on those chilly mornings.

Turn everything off:

Help your car by turning off all the electronics you can, such as the radio, heater, demister, and headlights.

So your battery can give full power when starting your vehicle.

 Try to start your car:

Turn the key and hold it.

Crank the engine for about 10 seconds, no longer – you don’t want to overheat or flood the engine.

If the engine fails to start, let the engine rest for a few minutes and try again.

Wait and try again:

If the car is close to starting but sounds slower than usual, give it another few minutes' break and try starting it again.

 Time for a jump start:

If you can’t get your car’s engine to turn over, jump starting the car is your next option.

Please ensure you follow the manufacturer’s recommendations when doing this procedure (done incorrectly, you can cause serious problems with the vehicle's electronic systems)

Or contact your local Future Auto Service Centre for advice on how to proceed.

 Here are some practical tips to help prevent this issue

Get your battery checked before winter:

Your battery must be in good condition and effectively generate enough cold cranking amps to work during winter.

Your local Future Auto Service Centre can test your battery to ensure it is in good working order or replace it if required.

Protect your car from the cold weather:

Park your car in a garage. If you don’t have a garage, parking under a carport or next to a building will provide some protection.

The warmer the vehicle is, the less likely the cold start issue will occur.

Keep the car well serviced:

Keeping the car serviced will ensure the oil is correct, allowing the many moving parts to operate freely when starting the vehicle.

Your Future Auto Service Centre will also load test your battery during the service and advise you of any potential problems that can be avoided.