You go out to a cold car, turn the key, and nothing. Or you hear a slow, sad crank and then a click. This happens a lot around Holland and Toledo once the temperature drops. The good news: the cause is usually one of just a few things.
Cold Makes a Weak Battery Quit
A car battery makes less power when it is cold. If your battery was already old or weak, a freezing night can be the last straw. Most batteries last about 3 to 5 years. If yours is in that range and the car cranks slowly, the battery is the first thing to check.
Bring the car in for a free battery and charging-system test. We check the battery and the alternator at the same time, because a weak alternator leaves a good battery half empty every morning.
One Loud Click Usually Means the Starter
If the dash lights stay bright but you only hear a single click, that often points to the starter. The starter is the small motor that spins your engine to get it going. When it wears out, it may work warm and quit cold. A starter often lasts 100,000 to 150,000 miles.
The Battery Light Means the Alternator
If the car starts but the battery light glows while you drive, the alternator is not keeping up. It charges the battery while the engine runs. If it is failing, the battery slowly drains until one cold morning there is nothing left. Not sure which part it is? Read how to tell the battery, alternator, and starter apart.
Stuck in a cold parking lot right now? Call us and tell us the sounds and the lights. We put no-start cars at the front of the line.
What You Can Do Right Now
- Try your headlights. Dim or dead? Start with the battery.
- Listen. A slow crank points to the battery or starter. A fast crank that will not catch points to fuel or spark.
- Do not keep turning the key over and over. That can overheat a tired starter.
- Keep jumper cables or a jump pack in the car all winter.
Get Ahead of It Before the Next Cold Snap
The best time to test a battery is before it strands you. If yours is three years old or more, have it checked in the fall. A quick test is free, and a new battery on your schedule beats a tow on the coldest day of the year.
We are a family-owned shop in Holland, open Monday through Friday, 9 to 6. Book a free check or get a rough price with our cost estimator.