VIDEO: Car won't start in the cold

In most cases, the cold has drained your battery. These instructions show you how you can start your car anyway.

Start the car using a jumper cable

1. If you have a jumper cord, the first thing you need to do is find someone else on the road to help you.
2. Next, the jumper cable must be connected to your battery. You should make sure that the red end is connected to the positive pole and the black end to the negative pole of your battery. It is very important that you first connect the red jumper cable to the positive terminal before you connect the black cable to the negative terminal.
3. Your helper should do the same with the other ends of his battery, but the engine of the helper vehicle. When that's done, try starting your car - in most cases it will start.

Jump by pushing

If you drive a manual car and have an assistant or two on hand, you can also try pushing the car to start:

1. Get in the car and turn on the ignition. You should also have released the handbrake.
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2. Now your helpers have to start pushing. If you are moving at a pace of approx. 15 km / h, press the clutch, engage second gear and let go of the clutch in one fell swoop. Your car should then start after a brief jolt.

Starting the car with a battery charger

If you're one of the lucky ones who has a battery charger and doesn't need your vehicle right away, charging the battery is one option:

1. Most types of vehicles have the car battery in the engine compartment. After you have opened the bonnet, you need a 13 mm key. This releases the battery clips. You then need a 10-key to loosen the poles.
2. After the battery has been connected to the charger for around 24 hours, simply reinstall the battery and off you go.

If these methods don't work, take your cell phone out of your pocket and call ADAC or the workshop Of your trust.

The car won't start - you can do that in advance

• The battery is one of the most common reasons your car won't start when it's cold. A car battery also needs to be looked after and serviced. You should therefore check your battery before the onset of winter or have it checked by a specialist workshop. If your battery is too weak (a battery change is necessary approximately every 5 years), then have it replaced. the costs for this are between 70 and 130 euros.

• The spark plugs in gasoline engines are also a weak point and can lead to a false start. Remove all spark plugs once a year and clean them from soot and other deposits. With diesel you can check the glow plug from time to time and have it replaced if necessary. Tip: drive your diesel in winter Do not run at high speed until the engine has reached operating temperature.

• If your car starts badly in the cold anyway, then you should disconnect external light sources or other power guzzlers from the car. Always make sure that you switch off the light completely and that no devices - such as a small heater or similar - are connected to the cigarette lighter. This can weaken your battery so that your car won't start at all.

More tips when it's cold

• Winter tires should not be raised just before the first snowfall. Low temperatures in autumn are also a reason to swap summer tires for winter tires.

• The washer fluid should also be replaced in winter. The summer cleaning water, usually pink or pink, is good against insects and streaks on the windshield. The winter cleaning water, mostly blue, has the property of a lower freezing point and so cannot freeze in the pipes.

• The door locks can be another weak point in winter. Use a door lock deicer. This is always better for the mechanics than if you turn the key with force or pour hot water on the door.

Additional author: Matthias Nachtweyh