I have a 2008 Fit S, manual, 75,000 miles. This is my first winter, and might be my car's first winter as well. I bought it in Texas and recently moved to Minnesota.
Before the cold weather arrived I got my Fit serviced and the mechanic said it was in top shape. Over the past week it has been cold (-15 C / 10 F) and my Fit has been starting without a problem and running like a charm. Today it failed to start. Every time I turn the key, the dashboard lights turn on but I get a whirring/clicking sound and the engine doesn't start. Any ideas? Is the battery? The solenoid? The starter?

 

It's probably the battery. If it's the original battery, and so six or seven years old, I would just replace it without bothering to test it as it's pretty much at (or some would say beyond) the end of its useful life. Battery performance goes down in cold weather, while the engine needs more juice to start (due to the oil thickening some in the cold weather and the gasoline not vaporizing as readily or effectively). If, on the other hand, the battery is relatively new, go someplace and have it and the alternator tested. Some auto parts stores will do this for free.

You should be able to get the car started with a quick jump or probably by putting the battery on a charger for a little while. If you tend to make a lot of short, brief trips without any longer drives, it may be worth your time to get a small battery maintainer charger, as you probably aren't driving enough for the battery to fully recharge.

 

Thanks for the advice. I was able to jump the car later and went to get the battery tested. The battery was classified as bad and needed to be replaced. I got a new battery and everything is back to normal.

 

How much did you pay for the battery? Where did you buy it and what brand did you go with?

 

Once I got my car jumped I went to Autozone since they were only a mile away. The only battery they had in stock that could fit was the Duracell Gold 151-R. After taxes it was $145.

 

Okay, sounds reasonable. And I am sure the battery has a few years of warranty?
Good luck.