The last thing you want on a hectic day is to find out your car won’t start in the morning but will in the afternoon.
If you are just about ready to get to work, and you have a busy schedule, having a car that does not easily start is a bit of a hassle.
So, why does this actually happen and what can you do about it?
Let’s dive into the common reasons why your car won’t start and what you can do to fix this problem.
Car Won’t Start In The Morning But Will In The Afternoon
When it’s cold outside, it’s not just us humans that become sluggish during the day. Your car is also bearing the brunt of this frigid weather. This is why it is uncommon to find your vehicle struggling to start during the day.
The low temperatures cause your battery to generate less current. Thus, it is more difficult for the engine to efficiently turn over, especially in the morning. It is also possible that the cold weather can prevent the engine oil from flowing better. As a result, the battery gets more strained.
Obviously, cars and the cold weather don’t mix well.
But did you know that there are other things that can cause your car to not start well in the morning? Here they are.
Top Reasons Your Car Won’t Start In The Morning
If you want to prevent starting issues with your car in the cold weather, you need to know why this even happens. Do keep in mind that driving in cold temperatures can be quite dangerous for your vehicle. This is why it makes sense to be aware of these reasons to spare you from massive headaches and troubles with your car.
1. Problem with the batteries.
Batteries are unable to produce the right amount of electrical current during the cold weather. This happens because of the chemical reaction that is much slower in the cold than during a warmer day. Hence, you find it more difficult to start your car.
2. Engine oil gets thicker.
When it is cold outside, the engine oil thickens up. This prevents it from flowing more efficiently around your engine. Thus, there is more difficulty with pumping through your engine block, and this causes more strain on your battery. When the battery is already experiencing lower power, the car also fails to start easily.
3. Moisture in your fuel lines.
In some cases, the fuel lines may have moisture, which then freezes and creates a blockage in the fuel. Your engine simply will not start because of this blockage. Moreover, if you drive a car that runs on diesel, the diesel turns into a gel-like substance when it is cold. This is why it takes more time for it to deliver power to your engine when starting it up.
4. Older vehicles with carburettors are vulnerable to colder temperatures.
If you drive an older vehicle that comes with a carburettor, you may encounter starting issues in the morning. The small nozzles of this component can get clogged, which prevents moisture from evaporating. Then, ice build-up occurs.
On the other hand, newer vehicles don’t have carburettors. This is why it can’t be much of an issue at all. It only happens with classic cars or those built longer than 20 years ago.
What You Can Do To Fix Starting Issues
Now that you know the reasons behind this issue with your car starting in the morning, let’s go right ahead and talk about solutions. Here are the things you can do to start your engine and get your car moving.
1. Turn all electrical accessories off.
The very first thing you need to do is to turn off EVERYTHING. This includes heaters, radios and headlights that use up your car’s battery power. When you turn these off, your vehicle’s battery will have a better chance at getting your engine going. Once your engine starts, allow it to run for a few minutes before you turn these accessories back on. Otherwise, turning them on right after the engine starts will only cause the battery to die once more.
2. Dip your clutch as you turn the ignition on.
Another thing you can try is dipping your clutch slightly while you turn the ignition on. This minimizes the work your battery does while allowing your engine to start up even if you have a colder vehicle.
3. Clean and tighten the battery leads.
Check your battery underneath the bonnet and inspect the cables. They should be free from corrosion, which is a crusty or salty substance that is impacting your engine’s starting ability. If you see corrosion, then you need to clean this out to help your battery start properly.
When cleaning the cables and leads, make sure to wear protective gloves and goggles. Then, disconnect the cables by starting with the negative and scrub with a toothbrush and some baking soda and water mixture. As you replace the cables, attach the negative last to prevent an electric shock.
In case there are no signs of corrosion, you may want to check if the cables are tightened well. Loose cables prevent the proper flowing of the current, so you need to tighten them up before you try your ignition once more.
4. Fill your engine oil.
If you notice that the engine produces a sound as though it is struggling while you hit the ignition, then you may want to top up the engine oil. A low oil puts more strain on your battery when starting the engine. So, if the battery is already cold, then it would be impossible to start. Check the oil level with a dipstick and top up as needed.
5. Jumpstart your vehicle.
This is the very last resort to consider once you have tried the other recommendations we offered. But if this still fails to work, then you may want to contact a breakdown service to help you out.
There are instances when a battery replacement would be needed or even a fuel refill. Did you know that starting your vehicle in a cold morning ends up using 40 percent more fuel? So, you might be short on fuel the next day if you have used up a lot of it by simply trying to start your engine.
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Bottom Line
Here are just some pointers on why your car won’t start in the morning but will in the afternoon. We hope these tips help, so you can avoid encountering this issue in the future.