Car Sat on the Street for Weeks? Check This Before Driving

In dense North Jersey towns like Jersey City, Newark, Harrison and Passaic, plenty of cars sit on the street for weeks at a time, while the owner travels, works from home or takes the train. A car isn't made to sit still, and parking it for a long stretch can leave you with surprises. Walk through this checklist before you drive.

1. Walk around the car first

• Tires: do any look low or flat on the bottom? Tires slowly lose air while they sit, and cold weather lowers pressure further. Check all four with a gauge, plus the spare.
• Under the car: look for puddles or drips (oil, coolant, brake fluid). A new puddle after weeks of sitting is worth a mechanic's look.
• Damage: street-parked cars get bumped. Check the bumpers, mirrors and lights.
• Tickets or notices on the windshield, especially street-sweeping or alternate-side notices that may mean the car needs to move.

2. Look for signs of rodents

Mice and rats love parked cars, especially as the weather turns cold. Pop the hood and look for:

• Nesting material: leaves, paper, insulation
• Droppings on the engine cover or air filter box
• Chewed wires or hoses

Chewed wiring can cause warning lights, a no-start or even a fire risk. If you see damage, don't start the car; have it checked or towed to a shop.

3. Expect a weak battery

Modern cars draw a little power even when they're off (alarm, computer modules, keyless entry). Over a few weeks, that can drain a battery completely. If the car cranks slowly or just clicks, it needs a jump start, and then a long drive or a battery test.

4. Brakes may be rusty

A thin layer of rust on the brake rotors is normal after sitting, especially after rain or snow. Your first few stops might grind or feel rough; that usually clears quickly. But if you hear loud grinding that doesn't go away, the car pulls to one side, or the brake pedal feels soft, stop driving and have it inspected.

5. Check the fluids and the fuel

• Oil level on the dipstick
• Coolant in the overflow tank (only when the engine is cold)
• Washer fluid, which you'll need for the salt spray all winter
• Fuel: gas slowly loses quality over months. A few weeks isn't a problem, but a car that sat all season should get topped up with fresh fuel soon.

6. Start it and listen

Let the engine idle a minute. Watch for warning lights that stay on, listen for squeals or knocking, and smell for burning or fuel. If something seems wrong, it's cheaper to tow the car to a mechanic than to drive it and turn a small problem into a big one.

7. Take a short test drive

Drive around the block at low speed before you get on Route 21 or the Turnpike. Test the brakes gently, check the steering pulls straight, and make sure the tire-pressure light goes out once the tires are inflated.

Planning to park long-term?

• Fill the tank and add fuel stabilizer if it'll be months
• Inflate tires to the pressure on the door sticker
• Ask a neighbor to start the car and drive it every week or two
• Keep food and wrappers out of the car (they attract rodents)
• Use a parking spot that won't have street-cleaning or snow-emergency rules, if you can

Car won't start or doesn't feel right after sitting? Call Itowza Towing at (866) 292-2564 or send a request, and tell us how long it's been parked.