Problems with the car in the winter - where to look for the cause?

Winter conditions do not have a positive effect on the car. Sometimes they cause unpleasant problems, such as ignition problems, resistance to shifting gears, strange sounds of plastic, suspension and other elements. It also happens that the problems are much worse and interfere with further driving. Where to look for the cause of car problems in cold weather?

What will you learn from this post?

• 1. Why does winter negatively affect battery performance?
• 2. The handbrake is blocked by frost - why is this happening?
• 3. How to prevent freezing of doors and locks?
• 4. Why does the car “creak” in winter?
• 5. How to prevent diesel fuel and washer fluid from freezing?

TL, д-

The car in the winter is exposed to many problems and troubles. One of them is, for example, a problem with the battery or frozen diesel fuel, which completely immobilize the car. By doing the right thing, we can prevent these problems. Another problem in winter days is a workable jack (due to the thickening of the oil in the gearbox from the cold), handbrake blocking, strange crackling and creaking of plastic and other car elements, or the need to remove snow and scratch the car before leaving on the road. It is best to be patient and, if possible, take preventive measures such as diesel depressants, winter washer fluid or lock defroster.

Problem battery

There is a battery sensitive to cold. When the temperature drops to 0, it loses up to 20% of its power. The reason for this is the electrolyte problem, which matters at low temperatures. reduced energy storage capacity... In addition, in cold weather the engine oil thickens, which requires much more power to start the engine. Thus, on frosty days, many drivers complain about problems with starting the car... What to do to prevent this from happening? It is best to take care of the battery before winter sets in. If it is already badly worn out, it's time to think about buying a new one. Of course it's worth trying first recharge with a rectifier or handy charger (e.g. CTEK brands). It is also worth checking the open circuit voltage, which is measured at the battery terminals - for a good battery it will be 12,5 - 12,7 V, and 13,9 - 14,4 V is the charging voltage. If the values ​​are lower, the battery needs to be charged.

Hard gear shifting

Cold days too an increase in the thickness of the oil (professional - viscosity). This is the reason increase in resistance in the gearshift system. We feel this problem most acutely after starting - when we drive a few kilometers, the oil should warm up a little and the jack should loosen. Certainly winter riding means resistance will not completely disappear – i.e. shifting gears in cold weather will be more difficult than in positive temperatures.

The hand brake cannot be released

Handbrake lockup is usually caused by a malfunction - for example, leaks in the brake cable shroud... In such a situation, when frost comes, it can freeze and the car will be immobilized. When the thaw comes, the blocked line symptoms should go awayhowever, this does not change the fact that the armor is most likely damaged and will need to be repaired.

Freezing doors and locks

Winter adversity too freezing seals on the doorit might even block the door. In addition to seals, there is also a freezing of the lock - if someone in the car does not have a central lock, unlocking the car with a key will be a real problem. And in general, frozen locks in remote-controlled cars can also be a problem - they can be so frozen that they will not respond to the remote control and we will not open the door. How can I prevent both of these problems? Fasten the seals before the onset of frost. special silicone fluidand also stock up spray lockwhich will defrost the locks.

Strange, "winter" sounds of the car

Low temperatures make them all plastic in the car is hard and will creak and crackle under the influence of the movement of the car... The suspension, drive belt and many other parts that we are not even aware of such annoying sounds are also subject to strange noises. It remains only to wait for such a disease before the thaw.

Diesel fuel freezes

This condition can make life very difficult. Happens to owners of cars with a diesel engine. At very low temperatures, a situation may arise where paraffin will precipitate from dieselwhich can lead to fuel filter cloggedand then immobilize the car. The risk is increased if there is warm oil in the tank or if it comes from an unconfirmed source. How to deal with the possibility of such a situation? You can preventatively use additives called depressantswhich are designed to protect diesel fuel from paraffinic deposits. However, if the paraffin has already precipitated, then we have nothing else to do, how to tow the car to a heated garage, add to the tank depressor and take out summer fuel and then fill with oil suitable for winter conditions.

Frozen windshield washer fluid

Another liquid that you should not forget about replacing with a winter one is full length spraying... If we ignore this problem, it may be that the summer fluid freezes and thus expands and then destroys the hoses and reservoir. It is better to replace the liquid in advance with a winter one, which has resistance to really low temperatures.

Need more time

Remember that winter days the formation of snow and ice on the car and on the road... It is imperative to prepare your car before driving so that it is as safe as possible. What does this mean in practice? Clearing snow and scraping ice from the car – snow must be removed from the entire car (even from the roof), because the white powder falling while driving can be very dangerous for other road users. In winter, you also need to remember you leave home earlier than usual – if the road is icy, driving can be very dangerous, which will force you to cover more kilometers slowly, which means it will take us more time.

Driving in winter is not fun. Frost and snow cause discomfort during activities related to preparing the car for driving, especially if as a result of cold days there is a problem of a larger "caliber", for example car starting problem, stuck handbrake or frozen and broken washer elements... These failures cause not only inconvenience, but also costs.

Therefore, it will be much better if we are in the know. to drive the carand in case of doubt in the operation of some components, replace or repair unreliable parts in advance. If you are looking for tips for car operationBe sure to check out our blog - here - you will find a lot of good advice. On shop avtotachki.com we invite everyone who is looking for parts, chemicals or equipment for your car... A wide selection will allow you to complete everything you need!