Rep Power: 0

I left my car in a warm relatively damp garage for 2 weeks without starting it. When I came to start it tonight, it wouldn't turn over. I had the same problem after leaving it for a few weeks in the same garage a few months ago.

Last time, I was able to get it to start after trying about 5 times. After being able to start it once, it then started for me every time I tried.

Tonight, I went to start the car and it would just crank. It seems like it's a fuel problem.

Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.

 
Rep Power: 188

Can you hear the fuel pump for around 2 seconds after turning the ignition on and then shut off?

 
Rep Power: 0

I tried the test you mentioned, and yes, I do hear the pump for a few seconds when I turn the ignition.

One other thing I forgot to mention. When I tried to start it the first time, it turned over for a second, and then just kept cranking.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

 
Rep Power: 518

Fired briefly on its own and then died?
That sounds like it flooded itself.

Hold the gas pedal to the floor while you crank it (clear flood mode). Read more in the owners manual.


I'd check for spark
maybe see if plugs are wet or dry
then make my next decision based on those observations

 
Rep Power: 0

I will check the plugs tomorrow morning. Hopefully, it's something that simple.

Thanks.

 
Rep Power: 518

Do you know what to do if they are wet?
Do you know what to do if they are dry?
Can you tell if they are new or old, worn...or not?

I never said to replace them.
I observe and evaluate.

 
Rep Power: 0

Actually, I don't know what to do, but I will come back with my findings tomorrow.

Thanks.

 
Rep Power: 518

Pulling out a plug is done so you can "see" what's happening inside the cylinder.

If it is wet (smell it?), then you can probably assume it is still injecting fuel ok.
If it is wet, you can then assume the engine cannot burn that fuel for whatever reason and you pursue that as the likely cause instead of making futile attempts at chasing the fuel system (that is still working just fine).

Logical processes.

 
Rep Power: 0

Well, luckily, we got it working this morning.

We looked at the plugs, and they were dry. There was spark. The battery was weak after trying to start it so many times.

We ended up getting it to work by jumping it and using some ether and just trying it over and over.

It now starts fine, but I figure it will have trouble again if I leave the car for a while between starts.

Any ideas what I could do to avoid this happening again when I take a vacation?

Thanks.

 
Rep Power: 518

Your problem seems to be nothing unusual for a car that sits for a long period of time.
The battery WILL run down over time if it isn't recharged on occasion.
Also, a car battery is not designed to be run to dead. It loses capacity and lifespan every time you allow that to happen.

Get a battery tender/maintainer (the kind they sell for boats and motorcycles that sit all winter). Leave it connected and plugged in if the car is going to sit more than a few days.

HTH