Skip to content
Trust My Mechanic
Trust My Mechanic

Your Free Car Repair Advice and Auto Repair Help

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Contact Me
  • A/C and Heater
  • Auto Repair Questions
  • Battery – Alternator
  • Brakes
  • Check Engine Lights
  • Coolant Leak
  • Exterior Care
  • Front End
  • Head Gasket Repair
  • Auto Insurance
  • Auto Loans
Trust My Mechanic

Your Free Car Repair Advice and Auto Repair Help

How to Start a Car Sitting for Years

Austin Davis, October 10, 2008September 30, 2014

I have a Mercedes 190 E that has been sitting outside on the driveway for more that 3 years. I had changed the oil and filter just before. what should i do to get this car running. It is a stick shift. 4 forward and 1 reverse. thank you kindly.

Love and Peace June

 

Hey there June,

3 years is a long time to sit up….and I have a feeling it will not just start right up. usually when cars like this come to my shop we have to do the following

1. Install a new battery
2. Remove the gas tank, flush out the old fuel and install new fuel
3. Remove the spark plugs and add a small amount of oil into the cylinders so no damage occurs when we try to start the engine. crank the engine over once or twice then install new spark plugs
4. Crank the engine over and pray that it starts
5. Check all under hood fluids and remove the wheels to inspect the brakes
6. Test drive the vehicle

It is not uncommon to spend 1 full day of work to get to step 6, which can mean $800-1000

Blessings,

Austin Davis

Related Posts:

  • How to Start a Car That's Been Sitting for Years?
  • How to change air filter in car Toyota corolla
  • How to jumpstart a dead battery without another car
  • Signs of a bad alternator vs bad battery
  • Can a weak battery cause a car to run rough
Auto Repair Questions

Post navigation

Previous post
Next post
  • (no title)
  • Front and rear Brake Pads and Rotors
  • How do disc brakes work in cars and light vehicles
  • How do hydraulic brakes in cars and light vehicles work 3D animation
  • Look at How Far my Project Car has Come in a Year
  • 7 Things You Shouldn’t Do In an Automatic Transmission Car
  • How to Change EVERY FLUID in your Car or Truck 
  • 10 Winter Car TIPS & TRICKS you NEED to Know
  • How Much Weight can you REMOVE from your Car?
  • What Happened to the LEMONS BMW?
  • What it Actually Takes to Race a $500 Car for 24 Hours!
  • How to Install Windshield Wiper Brakes
  • How to Replace a Hybrid Battery in a Prius
  • How To Install A Flex Fuel e85 Conversion Kit In Your Car
  • How To Fix A Leaking Rear Axle 
  • How to Install Windshield Wiper Brakes
  • How to Perfectly Maintain Your First Car
  • How To Make Your Car Last A Long Time – Simple Checks
  • 12 Things To Check Before Buying A Used Car
  • Priced for Perfection: The World’s Most Expensive Cars
  • How To Drive A Manual Transmission + Rev Match + Heel Toe Downshift
  • How to Buy a Car To Flip for a Profit 
  • How to Buy a Used Car Interior and Exterior Inspection
  • How to Inspect a Used Car for Purchase

©2026 Trust My Mechanic | WordPress Theme by SuperbThemes