On rainy days or cold weather early in the morning, many cars experience difficulty starting. When the engine does not start right from the first start, many drivers have a habit of turning the key or pressing the start button continuously in the hope that the car will start.
However, this is not a solution recommended by technicians, as it can reduce the lifespan of the starter.
According to a technician at the Ninety Eight Auto Repair, Maintenance and Care Center (Cat Lai ward, Ho Chi Minh City), low temperatures can affect the engine start process. When it's cold, engine oil has higher viscosity, making mechanical parts rotate heavier in the first turns.
In addition, the efficiency of the battery also decreases with temperature, making the electric current supplied to the starter motor weaker. For gasoline engine vehicles, the fuel system also needs to achieve sufficient pressure for the fuel injection process to take place stably.
That is why many cars are more difficult to start after a night of parking outdoors or in low temperature conditions, even though the systems are still operating normally.
If the car cannot start immediately, drivers should not keep the key in the START position or press the start button continuously for a long time. This causes the starter to work with a large load, easily generate heat, worn the charcoal broom, fuselage and internal parts, thereby shortening the lifespan of this part.
A tip often shared by technicians is that for some cars using mechanical keys or old electronic fuel injection systems, the driver can turn on the power lock to the ON position for about 2-3 seconds and then turn it off, repeating the operation 2-3 times before starting the engine. When the power lock is in the ON position, the fuel pump will operate to create pressure in the system, making it easier for the engine to start.
However, this approach does not apply to all car models. On many new car models using start buttons or modern electronic control systems, the ECU may only activate the fuel pump according to its own operating strategy or during the start process.
Therefore, turning on the power lock many times may not bring clear results. Drivers should refer to the manufacturer's instructions for use to apply the correct process to each car model.
In addition to the start operation, using engine oil with the appropriate viscosity level also contributes to improving the engine running ability in cold weather. Areas with low temperatures should use SAE oil of the correct level as recommended by the manufacturer.
Ointment with appropriate viscosity will help the engine rotate lighter when starting, reducing the load on the starter and battery. Users should not arbitrarily switch to ointment with lower viscosity if not recommended by the manufacturer.
If the procedure has been followed correctly but the car is still difficult to start or cannot start, it is likely that the car is having problems with the battery, spark plugs for the gasoline engine, drumsticks for the diesel engine, fuel system, sensors or the engine itself.
At that time, drivers should take their vehicles to a repair facility for inspection instead of continuing to start the engine many times, to avoid further damage and incur unnecessary repair costs.
