The approaching winter makes drivers look at the thermometer and worry about the car. The winter months are harsh with high freezing temperatures, large snow cover and ice. Severe frosts test the car for strength and force the engine to work under increased load. It is very important to timely prepare for winter in order to start the car in cold weather.
You can often see a similar picture in the courtyards of multi-storey buildings. Grown men, nervously shifting their legs, jump near the car in unsuccessful attempts to start the engine. The turns of the key in the ignition and the groans of the starter are drowned in the silence of the engine. In 90% of cases, everything ends with a dead battery and curses addressed to unknown mothers.
It is important to start preparing for winter in advance, without waiting for the arrival of frost and heavy snowfall.
All preparatory operations must be done in a timely manner and then there will be no problems starting the car in frost. If the moment is lost, there is no need to be nervous and worry. The most important thing is to remain calm and perform a series of actions that will help start the car in cold weather.
Universal means with a 100% guarantee of starting the engine in severe frosts simply do not exist. It is necessary to combine different ways and wish yourself a little luck. There are a number of techniques that can significantly facilitate starting a car engine at high freezing temperatures.
The following methods can be distinguished for starting the power plant of a vehicle in winter:
Turn on the high beam of the car headlights and count to 10.
A fairly common way of "revitalizing" the battery, allowing to activate physical and chemical processes in it. Switching on on a cold storage battery high beam will make it possible to increase its temperature. The efficiency of the "warmed up" battery increases by an order of magnitude.
Depress the vehicle clutch when starting the engine.
A depressed car clutch makes it possible to disconnect the gearbox from the engine. This makes starting the motor much easier, since crankshaft rotates freely without effort. The method only works if the car is equipped with a manual transmission.
Disconnect all electrical devices inside the machine before starting the engine.
The use of additional sources of electrical power in the passenger compartment reduces the efficiency of the battery. The radio tape recorder, climate control, heated mirrors, instrument panel illumination must be turned off. Maximum charge battery you need to "throw" to launch power plant.
Starter shortage.
The key in the car's ignition does not need to be completed. When the starter cranks the engine a little, the key in the ignition switch returns to its original state. This makes it possible not to use up the battery charge and put oil into the engine. Starting an oiled motor is greatly simplified.
There is no need to "force" the battery.
Frequent starts of a cold engine in winter will very quickly drain the battery and will not help. . If the engine is not started, it is necessary to allow the charge to recover. Experts recommend taking a short break of 30 seconds between launches.
On a diesel car, glow plugs will help.
Before starting a diesel vehicle, you must turn on the glow plugs several times. To do this, just turn the key in the ignition and wait until the indicator in the form of a spiral goes out. It is recommended to warm up with spark plugs at least three or four times before starting the engine.
"Light up".
If all previous attempts to start the engine in frost were unsuccessful, you can proceed to effective, but dangerous methods. Before "lighting up" from the battery of a third-party car, you must thoroughly familiarize yourself with the nuances of this procedure. It must be remembered that improper actions are fraught with damage to the car.
Be sure to follow a strict sequence of actions. For "lighting" a special wire is used. In winter, it is best to store it inside the car. Initially, the wire is connected to the positive terminal of a third-party vehicle. Only then can it be connected to the plus of your own car.
The negative wire is attached to the minus of the "donor" and the second wire is fixed to any metal element of its own vehicle... After that, you can start the engine of a third-party car. After 5-7 minutes, they start their own car. Enough effective method, but the most important thing is not to be mistaken.
Towing.
The sequence of actions for towing a "frozen" car is as follows:
- use a towing rope that is reliable without visible damage.
- using a cable, connect both cars using special brackets located in the front and rear of the vehicle.
- on the towed vehicle, turn on the ignition (to avoid steering lock) and set the gearbox to neutral and stay inside the vehicle.
- the towing vehicle slowly starts to gain speed and pulls the towed vehicle with it.
- the driver sitting behind the wheel of the towed car, while picking up speed of 30 kilometers per hour by squeezing the clutch, includes the second gear. After that, it releases the clutch smoothly.
- after starting the engine, it is necessary to inform the driver of the towing vehicle that the vehicle has started and that the movement can be stopped. You can honk or blink high beam repeatedly.
How to prepare your car for frost?
The machine has a number of weak points... On them and the onset of cold weather, you need to spend a certain amount of free time. If everything is done correctly and in a timely manner, problems with starting the engine in winter will not arise. There is no need to be lazy and the car will start in cold weather with a half turn.
What should the driver pay attention to when preparing the car for the onset of cold weather:
Accumulator battery.
One of the most important elements of the engine starting system. Most of the battery energy is spent on starting the motor. A weak and unprepared battery will become the weak link in winter and can fail at the most inopportune moment.
Many drivers do not pay attention to the cleanliness of the battery terminals and they corny oxidize. All this negatively affects the efficiency of charging the battery by the generator. To remove traces of oxidation from the terminals, it is enough to use a metal brush. Additionally, experts recommend cleaning the terminals to a shine with sandpaper. Securely tightened terminal nuts ensure good contact.
If the battery being serviced is necessary before the onset of cold weather, check the density of the electrolyte and, if necessary, charge it. An insufficiently charged battery will drain its full charge very quickly under heavy load. Its power is not enough to start the motor.
Motor oil.
At high negative ambient temperatures, the viscosity of the engine oil increases significantly. It thickens and it is very difficult for the working elements of the engine to work with a thickened oily mass. It is not recommended to save on the quality of the oil used. Experts recommend replacing it before winter and spring.
The average engine oil change interval is 10,000 kilometers or 2 times a year. IN modern cars semi-synthetic and synthetic are used motor oil. Quality oil retains its properties even at high negative temperatures. Cheap oils very often thicken strongly in the cold and make it difficult to start the engine.
Starter.
Before the onset of winter, it is imperative to diagnose the starter operation. If necessary, you can perform its maintenance with the elimination of minor faults. The biggest consumer of energy in a car is the starter. If there are some problems in the operation of the device in summer or autumn, you do not need to wait for winter. An in-depth diagnosis of the starter should be performed. If repair is not possible, it must be replaced.
Candles.
Car spark plugs are very important in winter starting. Carbon deposits or soot on the spark plug surface significantly impair the performance of the ignition system element and reduce efficiency. Experts recommend unscrewing each candle and checking its performance. The average interval for using spark plugs is 20 or 30 thousand kilometers.
For diesel cars glow plugs are very important. They provide an opportunity to warm up diesel fuel before compression in the engine cylinders. This significantly helps to simplify engine start-up even at high negative temperatures.
Conclusion
A modern car despite the use of various electronic systems completely helpless in the face of severe frosts. Even the most reliable car system, can pass in front of him. The task of the car enthusiast is to prepare and simplify the starting of the vehicle motor in winter as much as possible.
Thank you for your attention, good luck on the road. Read, comment and ask questions. Subscribe to fresh and interesting articles on the site.
With winter approaching, car owners need to prepare for a number of problems associated with severe frosts: engine, door locks, brake discs, pads, battery. This whole farm does not react very well to the cold. How to properly defrost a door lock on a car without harm, how to warm up a frozen engine, battery and pads? Fortunately, available ways there is.
How to warm up a car in cold weather without harming it
Does not start?
The most common problem that car owners face is difficulty starting the engine. When the car has stood in the cold all night, in the morning it can be very difficult to start, or impossible. The reasons are trivial - frost reduced the battery power, the latter is not able to turn the starter at a sufficient speed, the oil in the engine thickens strongly, this adds load to the battery. How to fix the situation?
How to properly start a car in frost
If the problem occurs with sufficient regularity, then you need to seriously consider buying or renting a garage. A regular brick garage solves this problem at times. If this is not possible, then some drivers warm up the car as much as possible in the evening. During the night, she does not have time to freeze, and it starts up quite tolerably. If you are friends with technical partthen you can remove the battery every night and take it home.
Yes, it's time consuming, inconvenient, but the method works. When you get behind the wheel in the morning, do not start the starter immediately, you need to warm up the electrolyte in the battery, for which turn on the low beam for ten seconds. This, of course, works in less frosty conditions. You can also pre-insulate the battery, wrap it in a warm fireproof cloth, which will prevent the battery from freezing overnight.
Some nuances
- When trying to start the engine in the morning, try not to turn the starter for a long time, to understand whether the engine is ready to start, five to seven seconds is enough. Tightening the spinning of the starter for longer, firstly, is useless, and secondly, it is very harmful for the car.
- If you have mechanical box, then it is better to start the engine with the clutch pedal depressed. This makes the work of the starter somewhat easier.
- After starting the engine, do not rush to release the pedal, gradually, slowly, for a couple of minutes.
- If the starter fails to start the engine on the first try, do not torment the engine, allow a few minutes of rest. If even then the car does not start, then there is no point in continuing the procedure, it needs to be towed to the garage.
We warm up the car in frost
It should be noted that the engine does not always refuse to start due to a frozen battery. There may be problems with the candles, the mineral water in the engine may thicken strongly. And yet, it is advisable not to put the car on hand brake, the pads can freeze.
Wound up
How to properly defrost a car in winter
After the engine is started, you need to give it time to warm up. You should not turn on the stove right away, it is better at this time to clean the hood of snow, for the presence of ice. Roof in severe frost no need to touch, just brush off large snowdrifts. It will melt by itself, and you can save on the washer. And do not rush to panic if the glass does not go down, the mirror does not respond to the adjustment, we wait until the interior warms up, everything will come off by itself. The same applies to the gearbox, when the oil warms up in it, the gearbox will work as it should.
Knowing the features of a cold start of the engine is the responsibility of every driver living in central and northern Russia
Winter has come and the question of how to properly start the car in frost has become extremely relevant for our motorists. Even if you have a long driving experience, it will not be superfluous to update your knowledge, because to be left without your own iron horse»In the midst of frost - a weak pleasure. There are several recommendations for successfully starting the engine at temperatures below -25 degrees Celsius. This is not a panacea, and if there are any obvious or implicit malfunctions in the car systems, starting can be difficult. Use the service "" and find out possible malfunctions... And if everything is in order with the car, then the probability of a successful launch is very high.
Important information:
If you have any problems with - please contact us for advice.
Video
There is also specific features how to start the car in winter, depending on its configuration:
- injector,
- carburetor,
- automatic transmission,
- diesel engine, etc.
But, since the most popular cars are cars with automatic transmission and an injector, then a separate conversation will take place about them. But remember that excessive fanaticism in this matter can even lead to what you need. So, if the car absolutely does not start, it is better to contact a specialist.
The main feature of a cold start is not to rush and do everything calmly and consistently, listening to your car
How to start a car in cold weather
Let's start with how to start an automatic car in cold weather. The main difference from the manual transmission here is that the car cannot be started "from the cable", since the automatic transmission does not leave such an opportunity. In addition, the towing of such a car is complicated. In subzero temperatures transmission oil it thickens in the automatic transmission and it is highly undesirable to tow a “frozen” car to a box or service. Hence the first recommendation: don't overdo it. The main problem with a cold start is insufficient battery charge. If you feel that there is not enough charge and the starter turns sluggishly, then do not torment it. Use a simple and proven method: "lighting" another car from the battery using a special set of wires.
It is simple to "light" a car: connect the red wire to the positive terminals of the car, and the black wire to the negative terminals, then wait a couple of minutes and try to start
Many do not know how to properly start a car with an automatic gearbox in frost and start using the same techniques as in a car with a manual transmission, for example, depress the clutch pedal. This is not necessary at all. If the selector is in the "P" or "N" positions, the automatic transmission does not participate in the start. By the way, if after several attempts, even with a working battery, the starter turns perfectly, but the car “does not catch”, then the candles are most likely flooded. They must be removed and ignited or changed.
Such candles are not suitable for starting, and if they are filled with gasoline, they will also be wet.
How to properly start an injector in frost
This table will help you figure out how to properly start the injector in frost.
We hope our material helped you figure out how to start a car with an injector in the cold, and you will not have any problems!
We hope that your car will not let you down and you will not need to resort to the help of specialists
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Evil frosts affect all living things and not only. Car owners know firsthand how difficult it is sometimes to start their "swallow" at subzero temperatures. Numerous traditional attempts to start even the most reliable engine often end in failure and complete discharge of the battery.
To eliminate such consequences, you need to know a few simple secrets and tricks of how to properly start a car in frost.
Why is it difficult to start a car in winter
To understand the specifics of starting a motor in a cold season, you need to understand the main reasons that complicate this process. Most often, difficulties arise due to such phenomena:
- freezing of the battery;
- increased viscosity lubricants;
- the formation of condensation in fuel systems;
- oxide wiring;
- coolant problems.
Battery chemical cells lose their activity at subzero temperatures. Therefore, the lower the thermometer reading, the slower all lead - acid reactions occur.
At an air temperature of -18 ° -20 ° C, the actual return is about 40% of the entire resource. And the performance of a "dead" battery in severe frosts is generally reduced to a minimum. Therefore, at night it is better to bring the battery into a room with freezing temperatures.
Video - how to start a frozen car ("Main road"):
In lubricants at subzero temperatures, viscosity increases markedly, which increases resistance to rotation crankshaft and other mechanisms. Consequently, at the starting moment, the load on a barely "live", frozen battery greatly increases, as a result of which it quickly sits down. Using winter oil will significantly reduce the resistance of rotating mechanisms, thereby increasing the performance of the starter.
Another serious problem can be the formation of condensation in the nodes. fuel system... Water droplets contained in gasoline or diesel fuel, when frozen, create plugs that prevent the normal flow of fuel into the combustion chambers. This phenomenon can be prevented by using winter fuel and special additives to it. It is advisable to refuel only at proven gas stations.
Video - what devices help to start the car in frost without problems:
Oxide of terminals and contacts most often occurs with frequent temperature changes. When the motor is turned off, the wires take on temperature environment, and during operation of the vehicle they heat up. This leads to oxidation and loss of contact strength, which can also affect normal starting.
To prevent this situation, it is necessary to periodically clean the terminals with a rounded file, and perform all fasteners with high quality.
Video - possible problems after incorrect start of the car in winter:
The coolant has an operating temperature limit, upon overcoming which it can freeze. Rotation of the starter in such cases can lead to breakage of the pump blades and failure of the cooling system.
Operating a car with such a breakdown becomes unacceptable. To avoid such consequences, specifications the liquid used must correspond to the climatic characteristics of the region.
How to start a car in frost
Video on how to properly start a car in frost:
You can achieve your goal as quickly as possible by adhering to a certain sequence of performing all actions.
- If the battery has been outside for a long time, then before starting the engine, it is necessary to turn on all electrical equipment of the vehicle for a few seconds (high beam, stove, alarm etc.). A sharp load on the battery will force all its elements to "wake up" and begin to interact.
- Several presses of the gas pedal should provide fuel supply to the cylinders. On machines equipped with manual suction, you can partially or completely close the damper by pulling the handle towards you.
- Start the car in neutral with the clutch depressed. This will save energy for turning the shafts and gears of the transmission.
- All attempts to start the engine should be short (3-5 seconds) with half-minute breaks. Prolonged rotation of the starter can quickly drain the battery, flood, etc.
- When the goal is reached, the engine should be warmed up at medium speed. Release the clutch pedal smoothly after 15-20 seconds.
Correct diesel start
The main problem with diesel engines is fuel freezing. Adding kerosene to the fuel at a rate of 1: 5 will resolve this issue. And simplify the launch diesel engine it is possible by adhering to the following algorithm of actions:
- Installing the key in the penultimate position is necessary to warm up the glow plugs. Performing this procedure three to four times will wake up the battery.
- The suction (if any) should be fully set to "minimum".
- After squeezing the clutch, you can start turning the starter. Its rotation time for a diesel engine is approximately 10 seconds. And in cases where the car shows signs of "life" it is best to turn the starter to the bitter end.
- It is necessary to provide fuel supply by smoothly pressing the gas pedal. It is important not to overdo it here, since cold diesel fuel is poorly sprayed and can pour into the combustion chamber with a jet, which is very undesirable.
- If the engine starts, it should be warmed up at 1500 rpm. Keep the clutch pedal depressed for about half a minute. If you release it immediately, then there is a risk of stalling.
Launch video diesel engine in frost:
Current consumption at starting torque diesel unit one and a half - two times higher than that of a carburetor one, so it can only be started if the battery is well charged.
Features of injection engines
It is necessary to start such cars using the same method as carburetor ones. Distinctive feature lies in the fact that the injector initially requires three times the ignition on / off. This procedure will allow the fuel pump to fill the fuel line to the maximum. Use the gas pedal very sparingly.
Video - how to start a car in severe frost:
If the car flatly refuses to start, then with the help of a medical syringe, you need to inject one cube of ether into the rubber band of the air pipe. It is necessary to pierce the hole as close as possible to the throttle assembly.
Important! You should resort to this method only in cases of extreme necessity, since an overdose of ether is fraught with serious damage.
How to start a car with automatic transmission
The main factor influencing the technology of starting the engine at subzero temperatures is not the type of gearbox, but the type of fuel consumed. To start cars equipped with automatic transmissions, you need to be guided by the rules suitable for a particular type of engine (carburetor, diesel or injector).
The only feature of cars with automatic transmission is that they do not have a clutch pedal, so you do not need to squeeze anything extra. In addition, in cases of unsuccessful attempts, a vehicle with a manual transmission can be tried to start from a pusher. Cars do not lend themselves to this method.
What to do if the battery runs out
If the battery charge was not enough to rotate the flywheel, you can try to start the car by towing or using the crank, or use the energy of the battery of a nearby vehicle - "" (you will need special starting wires).
If there is no urgent need to leave, you can try:
- The battery must be brought into a warm room and allowed to "thaw". It is highly undesirable to use heating devices (hair dryers, heaters, etc.) to speed up the process.
- After acclimatization of the battery, you need to unscrew the top covers of the cans and check the presence of electrolyte in them. If its level is low, then it is necessary to add distilled water to the jars. Using an aerometer and other devices, check and correct the density of the electrolyte.
- Charge the battery for several hours.
Attention! When servicing the battery, a set of safety measures must be strictly observed, and all procedures must be carried out in a certain sequence.
A number of preventive actions and timely maintenance the car will help to simplify the engine start with negative thermometer readings.
- or spark plugs;
- replacement of filters for fuel and oil systems;
- cleaning the contacts of the ignition system;
- drain;
- check the level and condition of the coolant;
- close the curtains.
Important! It is unsafe to warm up the engine and fuel system components using open sources of fire. It is also not worth pouring boiling water over the motor, since in case of severe frost, the metal may burst, and microcracks may form in the block. Use only room temperature water for heating.
Winter in Russia for many motorists usually comes suddenly, and most car owners find out about it only at the moment unsuccessful attempt start the engine of your "iron horse". In this article, we will try to give useful and sensible advice for car owners, not only, but also for owners of cars, as well as owners of equipped cars.
But the most important argument for a successful start of the car engine in frost is the serviceability of the battery (the electrolyte density should be 1.26-1.28 g / cm3). Below is the data on the freezing of the electrolyte, depending on the current characteristics of its density:
1.25 g / cm3 -50 ° C, 1.20 g / cm3 -25 ° C, 1.15 g / cm3 -14 ° C, 1.10 g / cm3 -7 ° C, 1.05 g / cm3 -3 ° C.
You can check the density of the electrolyte of the battery at the service station or on your own by purchasing the device necessary for this procedure - a hydrometer. Of course, you also need to ensure the serviceability of the starter and generator, the presence of new (working) high-voltage wires and spark plugs, reliable fastening of the battery terminals, pure synthetic or semi-synthetic oil in the engine, preferably only synthetics in the gearbox. Replaced air, oil and fuel filters, full at least ½ capacity fuel tank are also important for a successful motor start. But the most important point is the battery.
Running gasoline engine in frost.
Let's simulate a situation - morning, temperature minus 25ºС, a car with "mechanics". We open the car and ... don't try to start the engine right away. First you need to warm up the battery, one of the surest ways is to turn on the high beam as usual (just blink your headlights for 10-15 seconds), then turn the key in the ignition and wait until the gas pump pumps fuel into the system. We squeeze the clutch pedal all the way (gearbox to neutral) and try to start the engine (for cars with injection engines, in no case touch the accelerator pedal, for carburetor engines we pull out the choke knob). If the car is in good working order, the starter will "revive" the engine within 5-7 seconds, but sometimes a second attempt is required. Take your time, wait a minute, and then try again the algorithm described above - the engine will start, with a successful start, gently and slowly release the clutch pedal. If the engine starts to lose speed when the clutch pedal is released, depress it again and hold for 20-30 seconds, try again (the oil in the gearbox will warm up), the pedal can be released.
Warm up injection engines it is recommended no more than 2-3 minutes, and for carburetor minutes it will take about 10 minutes. At this time, it is necessary to prepare the car for safe movement, clear frost or ice from frozen glass overnight, and the interior needs to be warmed up at least a little. Well, now on the road, we leave and move at a speed of up to 50 km / h, try not to greatly increase the engine speed until the operating temperature rises to 50-60 degrees.
Diesel engine starting in winter.
As with gasoline engine, a "live" battery is needed to start a diesel engine, but due to the design features of an engine running on heavy fuel (diesel fuel), important factors affecting a confident start in winter period... are the glow plugs in good condition, the condition of the air and fuel filter, winter fuel. "Summer" diesel fuel begins to grow cloudy (paraffins crystallize and clog filters and the entire fuel system) at temperatures below 0ºC. So we strongly recommend switching to winter fuel in winter (up to -25 ° C), but for harsh climatic zones with temperatures from -30 ° C and below, there is Arctic diesel fuel. IN real conditions even after refueling with the correct "winter diesel" it will not be superfluous to use depressants (prevent fuel thickening), in extreme cases add kerosene (80-85% summer diesel fuel and 15-20% kerosene) to diesel fuel.
The most advanced owners install fuel and fuel line heating systems on their cars with diesel engines (). The algorithm for starting a diesel engine is exactly the same as that of its gasoline counterpart. If there are no problems with diesel fuel and a battery, then the launch goes without problems. In case of thickening of diesel fuel, in no case should you heat the pipes of the fuel system with an open fire, you do not drive a Kamaz.
Starting the car engine with automatic transmission in frost.
Automatic transmission (if it is not ready for operation when low temperatures) complicates engine starting in winter conditions. The oil in the box that has thickened overnight counteracts the rotation of the automatic transmission shafts. If in the case of “mechanics” the driver disengages the box by squeezing the clutch, then the “automatic” cannot be turned off and the starter has to put more effort to unwind the engine and the box. So the most important aspect for a car with automatic transmission is a timely oil change in the gearbox (the cleaner the oil, the easier it is to start the engine).
In conclusion, I would like to say that if your car “doesn’t want to start up in cold weather,” there are options: “light it up” from another car and pull the car “on a tie”. The first option is preferable, but cases of "dying" of the engine control unit and ignition coils for cars with injection motors are not uncommon. Nothing will happen to carburetor engines, you can safely start "from the pusher". But in any case, do not try to start a car with automatic transmission with a tug (the box will fail).
Our advice is - new battery, good wiring, winter fuel and a garage (not even heated) will allow motorists to spend the winter quite calmly.
