Protect Your Car on Cold Winter Mornings

Two things ensure your car is ready to go when you are. Learn the correct way to start a reluctant engine and how to protect against winter freeze-ups.

Carbureted systems:

Press down on the accelerator pedal once to draw gas
into the carburetor.
Turn off the car ignition and wait at least one minute.
Hold the gas pedal to the floor and crank the engine for no more than 10 seconds.
Repeat this procedure no more than three times.
Do not pump the accelerator. If the car will still not respond, there may be battery or mechanical trouble.

Fuel-injected systems:

Fuel injected cars do not require pressing the accelerator. The electronic fuel pump does that automatically.
For fuel-injected vehicles, consult the owner's manual for recommended procedures.

Regardless of your car's system, the smell of gas means the engine is flooded.

Starting steps for all cars:

Turn off all accessories, including heater, defroster, lights, wipers and radio.
Don't 'gun' or 'rev' an engine. Take it easy until the car warms up. Hard acceleration can damage a cold engine.
Never warm a car in a garage, closed or otherwise. Carbon monoxide exhaust fumes could be fatal to occupants in the car, garage or attached structures.

Other cold-weather suggestions:

Add gasoline antifreeze to the fuel tank. The fluid will protect against fuel-line freeze in cold weather.
Keep the gas tank at least half-filled.
Keep an equal mixture of antifreeze and water in the car's cooling system.
Park in a garage, if possible. If not, park with the front of the car out of the wind.

(Source : AAA.com)