ANKENY, Iowa — For Tim Cox, rescuing cars in sub-zero temperatures that won’t start or vehicles with a flat tire is what he calls “rather exhilarating.”

Cox owns Tim’s Amoco in Ankeny. He likened the work helping people in the cold with ‘The Big Game.’

“I kind of find it exhilarating, a busy day where you just, you just go go go,” said Cox. “It’s kind of funny like I don’t know, basketball or something psyched up for a big game.”

If the cold drags past a couple of days or so, it then becomes less fun.

“When it’s below zero day the first day, we have some for batteries that are marginal or whatever but it always seems like it’s that second day of below zero that really makes the car struggle,” said Cox. “This is kind of our second day and we had a pretty full day yesterday, but it’s even little bit crazier today.”

Most calls involve work on the battery or a tire needing air. Sometimes they can help on the spot, and get the driver going right away. Other times it means a tow back to their shop, for more extensive work. The car repair shop has limited space, but one advantage of the cold is the car wash is turned off, opening an extra place to work on vehicles indoors.

“They’ve got creative somewhat with where they mount the battery so some of these hybrid vehicles is a little bit more of figuring out where you’re gonna hook on to get the vehicle jump started,” said Cox.

When the mercury drops the phone keeps ringing at Tim’s Amoco on Ankeny Boulevard and First Street.

“Weather definitely affects everything, including batteries, alternator,” said Cox. “We have people coming in all day long, we help with adding air to their tires because of the cold air.”

Tim’s Amoco does work in the Ankeny area, but thanks to their affiliation with AAA, they get work from around Des Moines and Ames.

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