Cold start problem: causes and solutions

Have you tried everything but your car won't start? We have all experienced this situation at one time or another and the least we can say is that it can be very stressful! Here is an article that lists all the checks to be done if your car won't start anymore!

🚗 Is the battery working?

Perhaps the problem is just your battery. This is one of the parts of your car that is most likely to fail. Indeed, it can be discharged for many reasons:

• If not used for a long time;
• If you forget to turn off your headlights;
• If its liquid has evaporated due to strong heat;
• If its pods are oxidized;
• When the battery is approaching the end of its service life (4-5 years on average).

To check the battery, you will need a multimeter to check its voltage:

• A battery in good condition should have a voltage between 12,4 and 12,6 V;
• A battery that just needs to be charged will display a voltage between 10,6V to 12,3V;
• Below 10,6V it just fails, you need to replace the battery!

🔧 Are the nozzles working? 

A bad air / fuel mixture can be a cause of your starting anxiety! In these cases, combustion cannot continue properly and therefore you cannot start it.

The perpetrators must be found on the side of the injection system. It is possible that the injectors or various sensors that inform the injectors are faulty. Leakage from seals is also possible.

If you notice a loss in power or an increase consumption this is definitely a probleminjection ! Don't wait for a breakdown to call a locksmith.

?? Are the candles working? 

With diesel engine: glow plugs

Diesel engines work differently than gasoline engines. For optimal combustion, the diesel / air mixture must be preheated with glow plugs. If you're having trouble starting, the glow plugs may no longer be working! It will take longer than usual, or even impossible, to ignite the cylinder or your engine. In this case, all glow plugs must be replaced.

Gasoline engine: spark plugs

Unlike diesel engines, gasoline cars are equipped with spark plugs that are powered by a coil. Cold start problems can occur due to:

• of Spark plug : the malfunction prevents the spark required for combustion of the air-gasoline mixture. In this case, all spark plugs must be replaced!
• La ignition coil : the battery sends current to the ignition coil to deliver it to the spark plugs. Candles use this current to create sparks in cylinders and ignite. Any failure of the coil leads to problems with the power supply of the spark plugs, and therefore with starting the engine!

🚘 Your car still won't start?

There are many other possible explanations! Here are the most common ones:

• Defective starter;
• A generator that no longer charges the battery;
• HS or leaking fuel pump;
• The engine oil is too viscous in very cold weather;
• No carburetor (on older petrol models) ...

As you can see, the causes of cold start problems are numerous and difficult for a novice mechanic to discover. So if you are in this case, why not contact one of our Reliable mechanics?