# Car won't start in cold + damp weather! Help! **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [February 25, 2009, 9:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-in-cold-damp-weather-help/26973 "2009-02-25T21:18:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wildfawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/2bfe46/32.png) [@wildfawn](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wildfawn)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 9:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-in-cold-damp-weather-help/26973/1 "2009-02-25T21:18:18Z")
I have a 97 Jetta, and when it it is cold and damp out my car will not start. At times, if I persistently try to get it started, it will finally turn over after 5-10 minutes of periodically turning the ignition and pressing the gas pedal…though sometimes it won’t start at all. Once it is running, the problem won’t return during the same day. I have had a recent oil change, new battery, and live in SF California where the temperatures never get below freezing. I brought it to the mechanics and they didn’t find anything on their diagnostic tests. I don’t know much about auto engines, but my instinct is that the fuel isn’t getting through/ignited? Help!? ---
**Author:** ![fitjeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e79b87/32.png) [@fitjeep](https://community.cartalk.com/u/fitjeep)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 10:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-in-cold-damp-weather-help/26973/2 "2009-02-25T22:46:50Z")
Please be more specific about how it doesn’t start. Does it crank but not start running on its own? Does it not crank at all? I suspect the former, since the problem happens when it is cold and damp. Usually this is caused by a failure of the high voltage part of the ignition system, like the coil(s), plug wires, and/or spark plugs. Your mechanic knows this too. Since your car is 12 years old, I’d start with new spark plugs and wires. And distributor cap if your car has one.