Car Won't Start...

[phong]

So, exactly 2 months ago tonight I got smashed by the old lady and since that night the car has been sitting in my driveway waiting for me to find the time and energy to get it fixed.  I made the mistake of not starting it periodically, after a month the battery was dead...

This morning I took the initiative to jump the car and get it into the garage so they could plow the driveway.  I was able to get it to turn over with a jump but it wouldn't fire up. 

My first thought is bad gas from sitting 2 months?  Other than that I don't know where to start, the car ran fine when it shut it down the night of the accident.

So whats the likely culprit?

[skyphix]

Bad Gas, clogged fuel filter from the ethanol turning into gel, fouled plugs, disconnected spark plug wires/coil packs.

[Capitalandmotors]

did you notice if the battery looked like it was bulged. I've seen battery's freeze and when trying to jump them you won't get enough voltage from them to run the ecu, but will crank the car. try a new battery or take the one out of the car and let it warm up.

also did any of the harness in the drivers front get hit, in the accident some wires may have become cut and sitting for a period of time they could have corrided.

[9925leggy]

Bad Gas, clogged fuel filter from the ethanol turning into gel, fouled plugs, disconnected spark plug wires/coil packs.

So very true ive pulled carbs with bowls full of gel after sitting for a few weeks fuck ethanol. Fred makes a super valid point as always. Hope all works out for ya

[phong]

The accident wasn't too bad, although I didn't look, I would image the wiring is intact.

The battery is an autozone special I picked up in law school so that is possible, but it didn't get too cold last night. It was 29 degrees on my way to the gym at 4:45 this morning. Part of my reasoning for not starting the car was to "accidentally" ruin the battery so I could justify picking up a better battery.  

My guess is it is gas/spark related.  Would the plugs foul from just sitting?

[skyphix]

Not likely on the fouled plugs but I had to throw it out there. Put a spare plug wire on, put a spark plug in the end and ground it. Check for spark.

Fred has seen a lot of cars in the condition of yours, so I'd probably take the 15 minutes to check what he suggested as well... even if the accident wasn't that bad. I'm pretty sure he just rewired a car that had corroded wires and hadn't ever been in an accident.

[phong]

That is a valid point considering my other reason for swapping batteries was the current battery's tendancy to leak/seep, right next to the harness.

[skyphix]

I vote battery + check wires while its out before you do anything else. Also, consider adding Stabil to the gas tank and running the car a bit before the next hiatus.

[rshaw123]

This morning I took the initiative to jump the car and get it into the garage so they could plow the driveway.  I was able to get it to turn over with a jump but it wouldn't fire up. 

My car did the same thing have the battery tested because mine just turned over never firing.  I took the battery to Advanced and I had two bad cells, after I replaced the battery I had no problem.

[phong]

did you notice if the battery looked like it was bulged. I've seen battery's freeze and when trying to jump them you won't get enough voltage from them to run the ecu, but will crank the car. try a new battery or take the one out of the car and let it warm up.

My car did the same thing have the battery tested because mine just turned over never firing.  I took the battery to Advanced and I had two bad cells, after I replaced the battery I had no problem.

Update!

It was the battery, fired right up with the new battery.

[peter32892]

Nice, how long till she is completely fixed?   

[phong]

Probably a month or so...I'm working on the lights right now.

[Photofixer]

Soon brother