February 17, 2021
3 Most Common Car Problems with Cold Weather
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Freezing weather affects your vehicle just as much as it affects people. Unfortunately, since your car can’t regulate its temperature on its own and can’t put on a sweater, sub-zero temperatures can wreak havoc on your ride.
Wintry weather brings tons of car problems, especially to new car owners. From cars that won’t start to frozen locks that won’t open, cold weather problems are more than enough to give someone a really bad day.
Take a look at the most common vehicle issues encountered with cold weather. Know how to avoid them so you’ll be able to save yourself from the stress caused by a cold-damaged vehicle. Save your bank account from shrinking further due to car repair costs, too!
- Frozen windshield wipers
Your wipers are extremely vulnerable to cold temperatures. Sometimes, they stick to the glass, and then the rubber blades are torn when you try to pry them off. While they’re relatively inexpensive to replace, it’s pretty frustrating not to have functional windshield wipers when you need them the most (especially when it’s raining or snowing heavily).
Top tip: There are winter-specific wiper blades that are designed for icy conditions. Replace your regular blades with these once you see the first signs of the winter season. If your car is snowed in or the weather is colder than usual, check the wiper blades and make sure they aren’t stuck to the windshield.
- Dead or drained battery
This is one of the most common scenarios during cold weather. Batteries lose up to 35% of their power when the mercury starts to go down below 32 degrees. As soon as the mercury hits 0, your car battery will have lost over half of its energy.
Top tip: Always bring a pair of jumper cables in your trunk. If your battery dies on you while you’re on the road or parked somewhere, at least you won’t have to call a towing service. Being towed is expensive. Asking for help from a good Samaritan passing by will take 10-15 minutes at most.
- Failing or broken spark plugs
The older your vehicle is, the more likely it’s going to encounter this problem. When temperatures go down, spark plugs can fail as they’re vulnerable to corrosion. This is true especially for those that are old and are nearing the end of their lifespan.
Top tip: Don’t wait for cold weather before you try to get this one sorted out. Have your spark plugs checked as part of your regular vehicle maintenance. Old or worn-down ones should be replaced immediately to avoid any hassle later on.
What to Do if Cold Weather Damages Your Vehicle
Instead of wracking your brain on what to do with your cold-damaged vehicle and feeling stressed out, why not simply donate it to us at Veteran Car Donations? When you do so, you no longer have to worry about car repair costs or the potential risks of driving an old rickety vehicle in snowy condition. At the same time, you’ll feel good and fully satisfied, knowing that your car donation will help improve the living conditions of the impoverished veterans in your community.
We’ll sell your donated vehicle through an auction and use the proceeds to support the vital programs and services being provided by our charity partners to their veteran beneficiaries. These IRS-approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations provide deserving veterans and their families with quality healthcare, financial aid, housing assistance, employment opportunities, family support, educational scholarships, psychotherapy services, and many other benefits.
You’ll also benefit from your vehicle donation since it will entitle you to receive the maximum tax deduction. You’ll also benefit from our free pickup and towing service, which is available to our donors in all 50 states.
If you’re uncertain about your vehicle’s eligibility for our program, check out this page to learn what types of vehicles we usually accept. Don’t worry, we accept vehicles that are no longer in the best of shape.
For more details on our vehicle donation program, including tax deductions and our donation process, visit our FAQs page. Call us at 877-594-5822 or send us a message here should you have any questions or concerns that you’d like us to address.
Bring Good News to Struggling Vets
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If your old car is having problems with the cold weather, you can just imagine the miserable condition of the impoverished, jobless, disabled, and homeless veterans in your local area at this time of the year. Your car donation will surely bring them some good news. Call Veteran Car Donations at 877-594-5822 or fill out our online donation form now!
Last Updated: March 8th, 2023