Your Toyota RAV4 may fail to start in cold weather for a number of reasons, including a dead battery, clogged fuel lines, frozen coolant, or the wrong type of engine oil. Even if you jump-start your battery, don’t try to drive the SUV until you’ve identified the source of the issue.

The RAV4 is one of the most popular small SUVs on the road, but even the most reliable SUV can experience engine start problems in frigid weather. If your Toyota won’t start in the cold, here are some of the most common reasons—and exactly what to do about them.

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The 5 most common reasons your Toyota RAV4 won’t start in the cold

1. Dead battery

The problem: Your battery is too old or has lost power from sitting in the cold for too long.

What to do: Jump start the battery. If that doesn’t work, you may need to replace it.

How much it should cost: $0 – $355

A dead battery is one of the most typical culprits for a RAV4 that refuses to start. Your Toyota RAV4 battery will typically last between three to five years, but that can fluctuate heavily depending on battery size, type of battery, driving habits, and—yes—weather conditions.

Cold weather can exacerbate problems with your battery by speeding up corrosion on the battery terminals, so you might not realize the problem until that first really chilly day hits.

You’ll want to begin by troubleshooting. Ask a friend or neighbor for assistance, pull out those jumper cables, and try jump-starting the battery. If you have a voltmeter, you can use it to check the battery’s health. If a jump start doesn’t work, or if your battery’s voltage is less than 12.4 volts, it’s likely time for a new battery.

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2. Weak battery

The problem: Your battery has insufficient cold cranking amps (CCA) either because it’s aging or because you installed the wrong battery.

What to do: Replace the battery.

How much it should cost: $305 – $355

Perhaps your battery isn’t totally dead—but it may be so weak that it can’t start your Toyota in the cold. This can be caused by age or corrosion—or, perhaps, the incorrect battery was installed into your RAV4 in the first place.

Your battery must have the proper amount of cold cranking amps (CCA). Simply put, cold cranking amps give a measure of how good your car battery is at starting the vehicle in the cold. In general, your engine needs about one CCA per cubic inch of engine displacement—meaning that you probably need as much as 640 CCA for your RAV4. If the battery you’re working with doesn’t have sufficient cranking power in the cold, you’ll be stuck in your driveway until you replace it.

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3. Clogged fuel lines

The problem: Condensation in the fuel tank can lead to starting problems in the cold if it clogs the fuel lines.

What to do: Clean out the lines with a vacuum or plunger.

How much it should cost: $80 – $150 or more

If you’ve tested your battery and everything seems okay, your RAV4’s starting problems might be caused by the fuel system. In cold weather, the fuel lines that carry gas from your tank to the car engine can be clogged by condensation. The

fuel filter

or fuel pump could be affected in this way as well.

If you have the right tools on hand, flushing the fuel lines is a relatively simple DIY project—but if there’s a clog in the filter or pump, you’re looking at pricier repairs. If you end up needing to

replace the fuel pump

, the cost could be close to $1,000—and more if you bring it to a dealership.

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4. Incorrect engine oil

The problem: You’re using engine oil that’s too viscous in the cold, preventing the engine from moving as it’s meant to.

What to do: Replace your oil with the correct type recommended by the manufacturer.

How much it should cost: $45 – $75

Everyone knows that oil is incredibly necessary to keep your RAV4 running smoothly—but did you know that your oil’s viscosity is equally as important, especially in the cold?

For peak performance, you'll want to use synthetic oil with a grade of SAE 0W-20 or SAE 5W-20 for the Toyota RAV4. The “W” in the first half of that code refers to the oil’s viscosity in Winter—and “0” and “5” means that the oil is very thin even in cold weather, allowing for smooth operation in low temperatures.

Check your owner’s manual to see the recommended oil type for your Toyota and replace the oil with the correct viscosity if necessary.

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5. Frozen coolant

The problem: Coolant keeps your engine at the correct operating temperature, but if it freezes, it can cause the engine to overheat.

What to do: Thaw out the vehicle using a fan heater (or wait it out).

How much it should cost: $0

If it happens to be incredibly cold out, you could experience frozen coolant—a liquid that keeps your Toyota’s engine running at an optimal temperature. If this happens, you might have trouble starting the car—and if you’re able to get it running, frozen cooling could cause your engine to overheat, leading to catastrophic damage.

If you suspect

frozen coolant

, don’t try to drive the vehicle. Engine overheating could lead to even more serious problems. Instead, give the coolant time to thaw, ideally for a few days. A heater can help you to warm the coolant up, but don’t drive the vehicle until you’re sure it’s no longer frozen.

MORE: Antifreeze vs. coolant: what’s the difference?

Other causes: bad alternator, faulty starter, or insufficient fuel

While battery problems, clogged fuel lines, and mismatched oil are the most common causes for a RAV4 that won’t start in cold temperatures, you could also have starting problems that aren’t directly related to the weather.

For example:

Faulty alternator: Your car’s battery is what starts the engine, but if the alternator that charges it is worn out or malfunctioning, the battery won’t have sufficient power. Dim accessory lights and a dashboard battery light are classic signs of

a worn-out alternator

Broken starter: If you hear clicking sounds when trying to start your Compass, the

starter motor

, solenoids, or

ignition switch

could be at fault.

Out of gas: This is a pretty basic problem, but you’d be surprised at how easy it is to overlook! Make sure your gas tank is full if you’re not able to start your SUV in the cold—and check for a fuel leak if you filled it up recently.

Dirty spark plugs: Your car’s

spark plugs

are essential to starting the vehicle up, so dirty or broken plugs can lead to problems starting in any weather.

Dead key fob battery: It might not be your car battery that’s at fault for your non-starting RAV4—the much smaller battery in your

key fob

could be to blame, especially if your remote start function isn’t working.

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What to do if your Toyota RAV4 won’t start in the cold

If your RAV4 won’t start, don’t panic! It can be really frustrating to be without a car, but the solution might be relatively simple. Try the following steps:.

Bring the battery inside

As we mentioned, the battery is almost always the reason your RAV4 won’t start in the winter, so warming up your battery may be the first step to getting your Toyota going again. You can do this by literally bringing it in from the cold—disconnect the battery, carry it inside, and leave it for a few hours to warm up before trying to start the engine again.

Turn on accessory mode

A simpler way to give your RAV4 a minute to warm up is to turn on accessory mode. In other words, turn on your lights and accessories like the radio without turning the key all the way to start the engine. Leave the vehicle in accessory mode for about 10 minutes before you attempt to start the engine again.

Invest in an engine block heater

If you live somewhere with a particularly frigid climate, installing an engine block heater could save you significant headaches and costs during the winter. You can plug this device in overnight to prevent starting problems in the morning, and it can even improve winter fuel economy!

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