Have you ever had trouble starting your car in the mornings especially when it’s cold? If you have the complaint that my car won’t start in the morning, then you are probably frustrated. Imagine having a car that refuses to start in the morning especially when you are already late for your work!
However, this is a common complaint many have, especially those who live in colder climates. It is pretty common for your car to act sluggish during winter mornings so do not worry. This article analyzes the reasons why your car may have starting trouble in the mornings.
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My Car Won’t Start In The Morning: Why?
Complaints like my car won’t start in the morning is a pretty common one especially during winters. Even if it is not winter, nights can get pretty cold almost everywhere and cars tend to act sluggish when subjected to low temperatures.
Low temperatures can cause your car to produce less current thus making it much harder for you to start your car over in the morning. The cold can also slow the flow of the engine oil which can put more strain on the battery.
What Are The Reasons Why My Car Won’t Start In The Morning?
Knowing the reasons why your car won’t start in the morning can maybe help in preventing such issues. They will also help you have an insight into why it happens and that may slightly help you from worrying. If you are complaining “my car won’t start in the morning”, here are 4 reasons why this may happen.
1. Reduced Electric Current Production
The electric current produced especially in cold temperatures can be lesser than what is usual. The chemical reaction needed to produce current in the battery gets slower in colder temperatures. Thus cold batteries simply won’t be able to produce enough power like warm batteries and this would cause your car to not start or have trouble starting.
2. Thicker Engine Oil
The engine oil in your car tends to get thicker than usual during cold climates. This would not let the oil flow around easily in your car. Thus pumping the oil through the engine block will be more difficult which would result in placing additional strain on your car. And if your battery already has very low power, you won’t be able to start your car at all or you will experience starting trouble with your car during the mornings.
3. Moisture In Fuel Lines
Cold temperatures can result in the accumulation of moisture on the fuel lines. In such events, the fuel will freeze and result in the blockage of fuel meaning the engine would refuse to start as it did not receive any fuel to get it working. This situation is more common in cars that have thin fuel lines and are easily blocked by ice. If your car uses diesel, it can be harder as diesel is more prone to getting cold in low temperatures. This would result in it freezing more than petrol thus making it harder for the fuel to reach the engine.
4. Carburettors
Are you complaining that “my car won’t start in the morning” after having a very old car? Old cars are fitted with a device called a carburettor. They have small nozzles and thus are susceptible to colder climates. During cold temperatures, these small nozzles can get clogged and this won’t allow moisture to escape. This would lead to a build-up of ice in the nozzles.
Modern cars do not have a carburettor and if your car was built in the last 20 years and face the issue of cars hesitating to start in the mornings, then a clogged carburettor is most probably the reason.
How To Start The Engine
Here is how you can turn on the engine again after it refuses to start in the morning.
1. Turn Everything Off
All of the components in your car like headlights, radio, heater, etc use electric current to run. Since the produced electric current is already low, using up the electric current by these components will lead to the engine getting nothing to start. So turning all of these off before starting the car will help it get all of the electric currents which would enable it to finally start. When your car finally starts, let it run for a while before switching on the other parts.
2. Dip The Clutch When Turning On The Ignition
Another method you can try to start your car is by dipping the clutch as you slightly turn the ignition. This will reduce the work the battery has to do and will probably help in starting your car.
3. Check Whether The Battery Leads Are Cleaned And Tightened
Check your battery and clean it if there is the presence of any signs of corrosion or dust. This will help the battery to work well. To do so, you might have to disconnect the battery. Make sure to wear protective gloves and goggles before doing so. You can make use of a toothbrush and a strong mixture of baking soda and water.
4. Fill Up Your Engine Oil
Sometimes your car is refusing to start because of a low level of engine oil. This can give a lot of strain to your battery making it unable to produce enough power to start your car. You can make use of a dipstick to check the level of oil. If you find that it is low, top it up and then try starting the car.
5. Jump Start
If none of the above methods worked, this is your last resort. However, jump start your car only if you are sure of what you are doing or otherwise you can hurt yourself and in your car. If your car refuses to start even after the jump start, it may mean that your car broke down and you will have to get it checked by a mechanic.
Conclusion
Cars refusing to start especially in the mornings when you are in a hurry to go somewhere can be a very frustrating situation to be in. This article discussed every possible reason why your car may take a long time to start during the mornings. Hope you found it helpful.