Why won't my 2013 Chery J1 start?

Cars don’t like to sit around for long periods. When they do, they often develop problems in the process, with everything from running problems to flat-spotted tyres and mould growing inside them.

When you say the car doesn’t want to start, does that mean it turns over when you turn the key, or that nothing at all happens? If it’s the latter, the battery is probably flat or completely dead and will need to be recharged or replaced depending on its condition. If the engine turns but doesn’t fire, you might have a tank full of stale fuel that will need to be drained and replaced. Modern fuel goes stale pretty quickly and can also foul spark plugs, making the engine hard or even impossible to start.

A full service with fresh oil, spark plugs, fuel and filters might do the trick and is a good idea for any vehicle that has been sitting around for a while.