How to fix a car that is hard to start in winter with surprising effectiveness
(Baonghean.vn) - Difficulty starting is one of the most common car "diseases" in winter. The main cause is that low temperatures affect the circulation of fuel in the parts... So how to fix the problem of a car having difficulty starting in cold weather without having to call a mechanic? Below are some effective solutions to try if you encounter this situation.
1. Turn on the power several times to heat the air.
![]() |
First, when starting the engine, you need to turn off all fuel-consuming devices such as fans, air conditioners, radios or lights... Then turn on the ignition and leave it in the ON position, wait until the drying light turns off. Do this about 5-6 times before starting, this will make the engine easier to start. After the engine has started, do not step on the gas immediately, let it idle for a while before slowly stepping on the gas and starting. |
2. Press the hand pump to circulate the oil better.
![]() |
The hand pump is a round knob located on the fuel filter. You need to press this hand pump continuously before starting to help push the oil into the high pressure pump, the oil can circulate better. Press until you feel your hand is tense and cannot press anymore, then stop and try to start the engine... In case you only press once and it works, the car's hand pump may be broken, more likely the oil is not being fed into the pipe; you need to take the car for maintenance to check and replace. |
3. Heat the fuel in the high pressure pump
![]() |
If the weather is too cold to start the car, you should use a fan heater, or slowly pour boiling water into the fuel filter and high-pressure pump area. With this method of fixing a car that is difficult to start in the winter, the temperature of the fuel is pushed up, making it easier to circulate. This is a fairly simple, effective and fast method that you should use. |
4. Heat the bottom of the crankcase
![]() |
To do this, you need to use a blowtorch or burn fire directly at the bottom of the crankcase to make the engine lubricating oil less thick. This way, the engine will start more easily and quickly. With this method to fix a car that is difficult to start in winter, you need to remember to depress the clutch so that the gearbox oil does not hinder the engine speed... Although this method is simple and highly effective, it is quite dangerous. Therefore, you should consider before using this method. |
5. Use backup batteries
![]() |
If the reason your car is hard to start is due to a weak battery, you should jump start it using a spare battery. If you want to use the battery for a long time, when the engine is hard to start, you should not start it continuously because if you do so, the battery will quickly lose voltage and lead to damage. |
* How to keep your car and engine from getting cold in winter
Parking in a warm, covered area also helps keep the engine from getting too cold, the battery from being affected, and fuel from evaporating more easily.
Do not park your car for too long in areas with low temperatures. If you must stop for a long time, leave the car running or restart the engine after 30 minutes of turning it off to limit unfortunate incidents.
In particular, on days when the temperature is below 10 degrees Celsius, cleaning the spark plugs, air filter, oil filter and adjusting the carburetor will help reduce difficulties when starting the car.
According to auto experts, starting a car should not last longer than 30 seconds. If it does not work, turn off the engine for a while and then restart it.
In case you have tried to start the car but it does not work, you should call a professional mechanic. Do not try to start it because this can damage some parts of the car and reduce its lifespan.