I failed my road test last week which kinda discouraged me so I haven't driven it in at least a week. Temperatures were pretty low with the snow last night so I decided to start her up this morning. Welp, turned over a couple times, then died down. Interior lights and headlights are a little dim but the alarm worked fine so. It's my first time coming across this problem, any suggestions, ideas, fixes? Thank you
UPDATE: Battery connections are good and tight. Very little corrosion, but I poured baking soda/water on the posts to be sure. After turning and holding the key there for a few seconds, there's rapid clicking. I was thinking about picking up a trickle charger but now I'm worried the alternator has gone bad.

 

If the battery is low, that may be the problem. When the temperature drops, the oil thickens and it takes more power to crank over the engine. At the same time, cold temperature reduces the battery's ability to produce power.

Things like alarms don't need very much power. Lights need more, maybe 10 amps, but the starter needs several hundred amps of power. If your lights are dim, that means the battery can't provide quite enough power for them, so forget starting the engine.

 

So it's just not gonna start until the temperature rises? Lol

 

Old dried out lube in your starter.

Remove, dismantle, re-lube or replace.

 

If you don't change anything, then yes.

When one lives where there is extreme cold, you gotta have a strong battery (high CCA) and in tip top shape.

 

Funny because my Maxima is old enough to take a road test on itself. In a few years it will be old enough to drink.

 

Take the battery out and have it load tested at the auto parts store.


I have a 48-series battery in mine that I got out of a chevy truck from work. IIRC it puts out about 770cca. You could probably crank the starter until it burned up before the battery goes dead lol.

 

Are you sure that your battery terminals and cable ends are free from corrosion and shiny? If not, clean them with steel wool or fine sandpaper.

Electrical contacts need to be clean to start the engine on a cold day.

Agreed on having your battery load tested.

 

How bout you try just jumping the battery first, lol.

+1 for load test

 

Replace the battery.

 

New battery, or at least charge the one you have. Clicking is a classic sign of not enough juice. I put one from a Bonneville in my Max. Starts so fast you don't really hear it crank. Its amazing the difference a new battery makes. IIRC the bonneville battery is a couple hundred more CCA than the stock max battery. I had to cut off the terminals and put side screw on type mounts, but it was worth it. +

My wife totaled out her bonnie with a two month old battery in it. I pulled it out before it want to the junkyard.