Hey everyone, I'm looking for some help troubleshooting my car. It's been sitting in my garage for a few months and I just got it registered so I tried jumping it with a booster since the battery had died. The car will start, run for about a second or 2, then shut off. And I've put gas in it. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

CEL on or any codes present in the system? How old is the battery and did you fully charge it, then start it again? Is the battery light (charging system indicator) on? How is it once it starts, does it idle rough?

 

Nothing really showing up besides the usual "!" And triangle sign...and a small gas sign, but it says I have 3 bars on the fuel gauge. I honestly have no idea how old the battery is. I bought it off cl over the summer. It still has the factory mini battery. I used a jumper so it doesn't charge the car. It starts it. The car starts and idles smooth for that second or two that it runs. Its not rough. It sounds like it's gonna run fine and then it puters out

It has been cold in my garage and the car hasn't run in months. I'm thinking maybe a frozen fuel line or maybe even the key fob is dying. Not sure what to do

 

Sounds somewhat similar to this individuals issue HERE, which resulted in a bad HPFP. Could also maybe fill up the vehicle fully and see. If you have a scan tool, I'd still plug in and see if there are any codes present in the system.

 

Battery voltage should be over 12.0VDC. If not, try recharging it. 11.7VDC is considered fully discharged and 12.6VDC or more is considered fully charged. The ECU needs a battery with a charge to run --- just starting it and relying on the alternator to charge it isn't good enough.

If the battery is OK, what is the year / model / mod list, etc?

 

Thanks for the help and sending the link. One of the fuel pumps could definitely be the problem. I might just try to get it towed to a shop and find a solution. I need to raise my coils for the snow anyways.

 

The car currently isn't heavily modded. Just an aftermarket intake, exhaust, coils and camber kit and wheels. The engine is pretty much untouched as of now
And it's a 07 Cooper s hatch
I would think the problem has to do with fuel pump or line, dying key fob, or shot battery. Idk what else it would be. The car ran fine before it sat in the garage for months

 

I think you are telling us that you bought the car off of Craig's list last year. That it has the original battery. And that it is a 2007.

8+ year old battery.

Maybe start there.

Take it out of the car and go to an auto store and have it tested.

 

Yupp, I meant craigslist. And yeah I'm assuming it's the original unless she happened to get a replacement at the dealer but probably not. My dad has a scrap yard so I'm just gonna get a battery from there.
I'm not too sure if the battery is even the problem though
The car starts but stalls out 2 seconds later. If the battery were completely drained wouldn't it not even turn on at all? I feel like if the car were able to keep running the battery would be able to charge back up
Nonetheless, a new battery would indeed be good whether or not that is problem lol