Carolina boy in Iowa: Cold weather car trouble.

[3930dave]

Another vote for synthetic motor oil, it does help at low temps.

Check Battery/alternator. Then, complete tune up - spark plugs, plug wires, cap and rotor (if on that car), air filter unless recently done.

Last/not least - change the fuel filter if it hasn't been done recently. On FI cars, people will let the air filter go quite a while, but some fuel filters never get changed. People get can caught with dead cars just because the fuel filter is blocked with frozen water.

A battery booster pack may help him out fast, and will be useful for other things/occasions.

Stanley J5C09 500-Amp Jump Starter with Built-In Air Compressor : Amazon.com : Automotive

Rgds, D.

 

[hawkeye08]

Sometimes warming the battery can help. If there is no outlet nearby, get some handwarmers (the kind that come in small pouches and you squeeze them to activate). Use a towel or old blanket to hold the heat in, use several of the handwarmers. You might get enough heat to warm the battery so it puts out decent cranking amps. Of course, clean connections is also important as mentioned.

I learned growing up that a lightbulb next to the battery can make the difference in cold weather.