started before but wont now

[flrseclipse17]

Im new to the forum but have been reading it for a while but just recently got to registering, my actual question is if anyone has any idea as to why my car would start fine in florida but as soon as i moved to ohio and hit 20 degree weather it wont start. The car seems to attempt to turn over but after a few slow attempts it just starts to click, i believed that at first it would be the starter but was then told by own of my friends who has longer experience with cars in general that he believed that there was a bad connection to the starter at some point. any imput would be greatly appriciated before i go off and spend 145$.
thanks.

 

[Enigma_Man]

One of the things I've learned by working on my own car is that 90% of the problems I have are battery, or battery-terminal related.

It sounds like you either have a battery that's not suited for this cold weather, or your battery terminals are corroded, and need to be cleaned (maybe the temperature change made them separate slightly, and some moisture got in there, who knows).

Either way, buy a $2 battery terminal cleaner at Autozone or your favorite car-crap peddler, and give that a whirl.

If you have a multimeter, check the voltage on your battery, it might just be old/dead.

Those are my suggestions to try first, I'd say 85% or better chance it's one of those.

-Jesse

 

[ColonelOdem]

from experience in winter weather my whole life, Yes, do check that battery ... clicking sounds quite a bit like low batt. If getting a new battery then you need one with good cold cranking amps for these parts of the US.