What to Do If the Car Won't Start After Sitting for a Year?
3 Answers
Solutions for a car that won't start after sitting for a year are: 1. Towing Start Method: Use a tow rope of appropriate length to securely connect the non-starting vehicle to the rescue vehicle; 2. Manual Push Start Method: Engage first gear and slowly release the clutch, using the rotation of the wheels to drive the engine flywheel; 3. Jumper Cable Method: Connect the cables to both the non-starting vehicle and the rescue vehicle. Reasons why a car won't start include: 1. Incorrect gear position; 2. Excessive carbon buildup in the throttle; 3. No fuel in the car; 4. Dead battery; 5. Poor fuel quality; 6. Lack of antifreeze.
I encountered the same issue that day. The car had been parked in the basement for a year, and the battery was completely dead. My first thought was to find jumper cables and get a friend's car to help jump-start it. However, when jump-starting, be careful not to reverse the positive and negative terminals—connect the positive first, then the negative, and watch out for sparks to avoid injury. After starting, don’t rush to turn it off; it’s best to drive for at least half an hour to let the battery recharge. If jump-starting doesn’t work, it might be due to degraded fuel clogging the fuel lines—then you’ll need to call professional roadside assistance to check the fuel tank and injectors. By the way, tires under prolonged uneven pressure may deform, causing vibrations when driving.
Last time my car wouldn't start after sitting for too long. First checked the battery terminals - sure enough, they were covered in green copper corrosion. Cleaned them thoroughly with a wire brush and reconnected, but still no luck. In such cases, it usually means the battery is completely dead. Ended up replacing it with a new one to solve the problem. If the battery is fine but the car still won't start, consider engine carbon buildup or fuel line blockage. Recommendation: add a bottle of fuel system cleaner before starting, let the old fuel circulate a few times. Pro tip from veteran drivers: For long-term parking, best to disconnect the negative battery terminal, start the engine for 20 minutes monthly, maintain proper tire pressure, and place some moisture absorbers under the hood to prevent wiring aging.
