Car Won't Start This Fall? Battery Problems in Surrey, Langley and the Lower Mainland

The first cold, wet mornings of fall are when a lot of Lower Mainland drivers find out their battery has been weak for a while. The car was fine in August. Now it clicks, cranks slowly, or does nothing at all. Here is how to read what your car is telling you, and what you can do before you call anyone.

What a weak battery usually looks like

Cold weather makes a battery deliver less power just when the engine needs more of it to turn over. A battery that is already worn can go from "starting fine" to "dead" in a single cool night. Common signs:

• The engine cranks slowly, like it is struggling
• You hear rapid clicking when you turn the key or press start
• Headlights or dash lights are dim, or flicker when you try to start
• The battery warning light came on in the last few days
• The battery is several years old

Battery, starter, or alternator?

These three get mixed up all the time, and swapping the wrong part costs money.

• Battery: lights are dim, the click is fast, and a jumpstart gets the car going. This is the most common cause.
• Starter: lights stay bright, but you hear one loud click or nothing when you try to start. A jumpstart usually does not help.
• Charging system (alternator): the car starts with a jump, then dies again soon after, or the battery light stays on while driving. A new battery alone will not fix this.

If you are not sure which one it is, that is exactly what a diagnostic visit is for. We test the battery and the starting and charging system before anyone replaces anything.

What to try before you call

1. Turn off everything electrical: lights, heater fan, radio.
2. Check that the battery cables are tight and the terminals are not covered in white or green crust.
3. If you have jumper cables and a second vehicle, try a jump. Connect them in the right order and keep the cables away from moving parts.
4. If it starts, do not shut the car off right away. Get it tested the same day, because it may not start again.

If none of that works, or you are not comfortable doing it, skip the guesswork and call.

Tips to avoid a dead battery this season

• Get the battery tested if it is more than three or four years old
• Take longer drives now and then. Short trips do not fully recharge a battery
• Turn off lights and accessories before shutting the engine off
• Do not ignore slow cranking. It is the early warning

We come to you

If your car will not start at home in Surrey, Langley, Burnaby, Richmond, or anywhere else we cover, you do not need a tow just to find out what is wrong. We can test the battery and the starting and charging system at your location, and get you going if it can be done on-site. If it needs a shop, we tell you that on the phone before anyone drives out.