how to cold start a car

Asked by rebazg Jan 07, 2014 at 03:42 PM about the 2006 Nissan Sentra 1.8

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

My 2006 Nissan Sentra 1.8 doesn't start. Temp is -16 here in Indiana. The car cranks but
doesn't start. I have tried started the car since yesterday, the battery  is about to die. Any
tips?

4 Answers

445

Gasoline ignites as low as 45 degrees below zero. So, -16 degrees, that is not your problem. But, how much gasoline is in the tank? In any very cold condition, the fuel tank should be kept full as much as possible. If you have less three-quarter to half a tank of gas, you will need to wait a day or so for the temperature to get back to normal to start the car. Don't waste the battery anymore until it warms up a lot. If possible, get the car out into the sunlight during the day. This is not a car-specific problem, just a universal problem. In the future, keep the gas tank mostly full in the winter.

1 people found this helpful.
5,045

recharge you battery and try some gas line antifreeze,might just be water in the gas.

2 people found this helpful.
Best Answer Mark helpful

Thank you so much for answers Colin and Jimijobo. The fuel tank was almost full. It was the battery. My neighbor gave me a start jump and it worked. The battery was not so powerful to start the car. I have been trying starting my car since yesterday so the battery was almost dead. I appreciate your very good answers.

16,945

also helpful to floor the gas if it doesn't start right away to prevent flooding the engine. (flooring the gas when starting shuts off the injectors)

1 people found this helpful.

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