There are different automotive issues that come with the changes of seasons–you might worry more about your car overheating over the summer. Each season comes with its own unique challenges, so here are some things to look out for this winter and some tips on how to deal with them. 

Car Not Starting

    This is true in any season–sometimes your car just won’t start. However, in the winter,  this could be a sign of a bigger issue; like failing batteries or spark plugs. Fortunately, it’s not always a huge red flag, as it could also simply be a smaller issue like thickened engine oil, frozen gas in the line, or a bad starter or alternator. For those smaller issues, the best thing you can do is to try and keep your vehicles warm overnight or when the temperature drops to its lowest. Keeping your car parked in a garage or using an engine block heater to keep the engine warm are both good options. Don’t worry, we’ve got tips for those more serious issues too. 

Spark Plugs Failing

    You might not think to check up on your spark plug during your winter maintenance. But even these spark plugs can be impacted by the dip in temperature, as your engine in general is very vulnerable in the cold. Especially if your spark plugs are older, the cold causes them to be more susceptible to corrosion, which makes it hard for them to spark and do their job to get your car started. During your normal vehicle maintenance, it’s important to check up on your spark plugs so you know you won’t get stuck with plugs that won’t spark. If you’re having your routine maintenance done at Honest Wrenches, we make sure to do a full Multi point Service Inspection to ensure issues like these are taken care of before they become a problem.

Batteries Dying

A dead battery is one of the most common automotive issues that you might come across in the winter. Drops in temperature cause the mercury in the batteries to dip as well, and the lower the mercury drops, the lower your battery’s power falls. In the cold weather, trying to start your engine takes up twice the amount of energy as it would on a normal day, so you want your battery to be as prepared as possible to take on freezing temperatures. As seasons change, we always recommend taking your car in for a tune-up. At Honest Wrenches we can test your battery and your engine’s starting and charging functions to ensure they’re up to the challenge of taking on the cold and keeping you going this winter. 

But that’s not all! Next week, we’ll be back with three more issues to keep an eye on as we come to the bitter end of this chilly winter.