# Will driving a car in extremely cold weather damage it \[need answer fast\]

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-driving-a-car-in-extremely-cold-weather-damage-it-need-answer-fast/678099>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 7, 2014, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-driving-a-car-in-extremely-cold-weather-damage-it-need-answer-fast/678099 "2014-01-07T02:34:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-driving-a-car-in-extremely-cold-weather-damage-it-need-answer-fast/678099/41 "2014-01-08T14:00:10Z")

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> [@Wesley\_Clark](#):
>
> I bought a new battery and now the car runs (so far). So that is good. Since the temps will be in the teens tomorrow hopefully I will be ok.

You probably could have just taken the battery inside and let it warm up and then tried it. I’ve had to do that back in day when I actually had to work on my cars. Oh my misspent youth; those were the days. 😃

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**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-driving-a-car-in-extremely-cold-weather-damage-it-need-answer-fast/678099/42 "2014-01-08T14:14:46Z")

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[Oops](http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/note-charcoal-does-not-make-good-engine-heater) As I understand it, the guys put a pan of charcoal briquettes under the engine. Warmed it up quite nicely 😃 :rolleyes:

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**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-driving-a-car-in-extremely-cold-weather-damage-it-need-answer-fast/678099/43 "2014-01-08T22:25:32Z")

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> [@Magiver](#):
>
> [check to see if it’s charging](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uI0SBtmSjHg).

Autozone does a free battery & alternator check. I may try that but today the car worked fine.

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