What to Do When a Vehicle Won't Start After Being Parked for a Long Time?
3 Answers
First, consider that the battery may have been depleted due to prolonged inactivity, unable to power the starter motor, ignition coil, and fuel pump. In this case, an external battery is needed to jump-start the vehicle. Secondly, gasoline has a shelf life of only about one month. After three or four months, the gasoline will have evaporated and deteriorated, becoming essentially unusable. Even if the car starts, it should be driven to a gas station to add fresh fuel and use up the old gasoline. Additionally, it is necessary to replace the engine oil, as used oil can also deteriorate after five or six months. The reasons why a vehicle won't start after being parked for a while are as follows: 1. Insufficient fuel: The fuel gauge shows the level below the red line, making it impossible to start. 2. Dead battery: This could be due to the battery being drained from leaving the headlights on or the battery reaching the end of its lifespan. It is generally recommended to replace the battery every two years. Additionally, installing xenon headlights, high-power audio systems, or DVD players can also cause electrical faults in the vehicle. 3. Incorrect gear position: For automatic transmission vehicles, the gear must be in P (Park) or N (Neutral) to start. If left in R (Reverse) or D (Drive), the vehicle won't start. Some manual transmission vehicles may also fail to start if the clutch pedal is not depressed.
My car sat unused for a month, and when I tried to start it, it just died. I've encountered this situation several times, and the main issue is most likely the battery. Even when not in use, batteries can self-discharge over time, leading to a dead battery that won't start the car. You can first ask someone to help jump-start your car by connecting jumper cables to another vehicle to start your engine, being careful not to cause a short circuit during the process. If you don't have help, try buying a portable charger and plugging it into a power source to charge the battery for a few hours. If you successfully start the car, drive it for half an hour to allow the alternator to recharge the battery. If it still doesn't work, the starter might be stuck or the contacts could be rusty, and you'll need to have it towed to a repair shop for inspection. By the way, before leaving your car parked for a long time, you should disconnect the negative terminal of the battery to prevent discharge. It's also a good idea to start the car for about ten minutes each month to warm it up.
I've worked on several cars that had been parked for long periods and wouldn't start, with most issues stemming from electrical system failures. When the battery discharges, the voltage drops too low to power the starter motor, sometimes not even lighting up the dashboard. My advice is to first check the battery voltage—if it's below 12 volts on a multimeter, it needs charging or replacement. Next, inspect whether the fuel pump is functioning properly; long-term parking can lead to clogged fuel lines or a faulty pump—a gentle tap on the pump while listening can help diagnose this. Also, the spark plugs might be damp; remove them, dry thoroughly, and try again. Personally, I've encountered starting difficulties due to underinflated tires or a seized lubrication system, where the engine would just squeal during ignition—a quick fix is adding some oil to lubricate the wheels before retrying. Prevention is key: start the engine every two weeks for about ten minutes during extended parking to maintain battery health.
