The best solution is to replace the battery with one that has more cold cranking amps...CCA... if the battery you have now is getting old or too weak to start a cold engine at low temps.
Batteries can lose up to 50% or more of the CCA ..Cold Cranking Amps...at low temperatures below freezing which makes it harder for them to turn over cold engines...less available power. Add to that, engine oil gets thicker at cold temps which also adds more friction and makes it harder to turn over..the starter draws more current than starting a warm engine.
Call around to various parts stores or batteries outlets, dealers, etc.. and find out/price compare what is the largest ...most CCA...battery you can get that will physically fit in the battery tray of your car. Some stores offer free installation on many models with easy access...Batteries Plus for one. I'd go with something around 7-800 CCA depending on engine size but should be good for a 4 or 6 cylinder engine... what I use in my cars with V-6 engines is 800+ CCA and never had a starting problem living in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
A common rule of thumb is usually 2 CCA in battery rating for every cubic inch of engine size ....so a 4.3 V6 ...= 262 cubic inch engine ...would need a 520 CCA battery or bigger for starting in cold temps but I say to get as big as possible that will fit...7-800 CCA. If you get a battery rated for 800 CCA and it loses 50% of power at low temps, it still has 400 CCA...on the other hand, a more standard 500 CCA battery at low temps may only have 250 CCA....150 CCA difference and the lower rated battery is enough to keep the engine from starting when cold.
It won't hurt the alternator or electrical system to install a bigger/higher CCA battery...it's just more reserve power when temps get cold and you avoid issues with using engine block heaters, battery warmers, etc...or cannot use them in areas with no electrical service to plug in heaters/warmers....at work, shopping, school, apartment living, dorms, etc..
A larger battery/more CCA may cost 20.00 more or so than a standard size one but cheaper than a towing bill or jump start and avoids the hassle of being stranded with a dead car.
Make sure to have the charging system/alternator tested as well to verify that it's properly charging the battery...some parts stores offer to do for free. And have a tuneup done if needed.
There are 3 things required for an internal combustion engine to run/start.
1. Ignition.
2. Fuel.
3. Oxygen.
It sounds like the ignition is fine, but either the fuel or the oxygen is not being delivered well right away. I would have the fuel system checked first.
Your battery needs more cold cranking amps. Whatever your current battery's cold cranking amps are, get one with more.
Cheaper option would be to get a engine block heater to keep your battery nice and cozy when it get's really cold so it won't have a problem starting your car.
Even cheaper option would be to wrap your battery with insulation, like mylar blankets, overnight to keep it warm. Good idea to remove it before driving off though.
I have a 2000 Chevy S10 pick up truck. I replaced the battery last april. I live in Wisconsin and it is starting to get really cold outside. My Truck starts perfectly when it is warm outside. But when it gets cold it doesn't like to start. When I turn the key i turn it half way for the power and radio turns on perfectly fine then I wait 7 seconds then I hold it to turn it on all the way it makes the sound wanting to start but it doesn't. I don't know what to do. I am in college and have a job so I can't be getting stuck at places all the time or be late for places. So I really need a solution on what to do.
