Common Car Problems in Cold Weather: What to Watch For This Winter
Philip Defatta • December 15, 2025
Common Car Problems in Cold Weather
As the temperatures drop and winter sets in, many drivers start experiencing frustrating car issues that seem to appear out of nowhere. At PROFIX Auto Repair, we've seen a surge in these cold-weather-related problems every year. The good news? Most of them are preventable with a little preparation and maintenance. In this post, we'll cover the most common issues our customers bring to us during the winter months and share tips on how to avoid them.
1. Dead or Weak Battery - Cold weather is the number one enemy of car batteries. Low temperatures can reduce a battery's power by up to 50-60%, making it struggle to start your engine—especially if it's already a few years old.
Tip: Get your battery tested for free at PROFIX—we can tell you if it's time for a replacement before you're stranded.
2. Low Tire Pressure - For every 10°F drop in temperature, your tires can lose about 1 PSI of air pressure. Under inflated tires reduce traction, fuel efficiency, and increase the risk of blowouts on icy roads.
Tip: Check your tire pressure monthly (including the spare!) and inflate to the manufacturer's recommended levels.
3. Thickened Engine Oil - In extreme cold, conventional oil can thicken, making it harder for your engine to turn over and potentially causing unnecessary wear during startup.firestonecompleteautocare.com
Tip: Switch to a lower-viscosity synthetic oil rated for winter conditions. An oil change at PROFIX can make a big difference.
4. Frozen Door Locks and HandlesMoisture gets into locks and seals, then freezes solid, leaving you locked out of your own car.
Tip: Apply a silicone-based lubricant to locks and rubber seals to prevent freezing.
5. Wiper Blade Issues - Wiper blades can freeze to the windshield, become brittle, or get damaged by ice buildup, streaking or failing when you need clear visibility the most.
Tip: Replace old blades with winter-specific ones and lift them off the glass when parking in snow.
6. Reduced Traction and Getting Stuck - Snow and ice turn roads into skating rinks, leading to skids or wheels spinning without forward progress.
Tip: Consider winter tires for better grip, and keep a traction aid like kitty litter in your trunk.Don't Wait Until It's Too Late!Many of these issues can be caught early with a simple winter maintenance check. At PROFIX Auto Repair, our experienced technicians are here to help keep your vehicle running smoothly all season long.
Schedule your winter prep appointment today—call us or book online. Stay safe and warm out there!
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The rear drive unit in older Teslas model X and S have a costly design problem. Many Tesla Model S and Model X vehicles made from 2012 to 2020 have the Large Drive Unit (LDU), which has a guaranteed leaking rotor coolant seal. This seal, located around the electric motor rotor shaft, will fail and allow coolant to seep into the motor. Over time, every one of these will leak. Tesla tried various fixes to prevent this, then introduced ‘Revision U’ of the LDU in late 2022. This versionor reroutes coolant away from the rotor while continuing to cooling the inverter, stator, and gearbox through the flyover tube. This is a good and permanent fix. This issue impacts ALL rear-wheel-drive models (including non-performance RWD ones) and all Performance (P-series) dual-motor variants. The non-performance dual-motor models use a different rear unit without this flaw. While Performance and non-performance LDUs differ in their inverters, they share the same leaky seal. Only the NON-PERFORMANCE DUAL-MOTOR vehicles have the ‘small drive unit’ that’s immune to this. Newer Model 3/Y and the latest S/X do not leak coolant into the stator. If you own an impacted vehicle, make it a habit to inspect the encoder (or speed) sensor for signs of blue coolant buildup. It’s a straightforward inspection. If yours is leaking, act quickly to get it fixed before the motor floods and the car becomes undrivable. We perform this inspection for $49. Pre Revision U LDU’s can be modified to have the Revision U fix. This is known as the coolant delete. In fact it does not eliminate cooling for the whole Large Drive Unit, it only by passes the rotor cooling. Contact Philip at PROFIX Auto Repair for details and pricing. Don’t delay getting your LDU checked for $49.
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