The Trouble With Leaving a Car Parked Too Long
A sedan sat behind a garage off Michigan Avenue for most of last winter, and by March it looked fine from the sidewalk. Then the owner tried to start it. Click, click, nothing. Our tow truck crew sees that kind of Saline towing call every now and again, especially after cold snaps, long trips, or when a second car gets ignored for a few months.
Small Problems Start Before the First Tow
A parked car still ages. The battery drains, tires lose air, brake rotors rust, and fuel starts to get stale. In our area, moisture and road salt make that worse, even if the vehicle never leaves the driveway.
We usually notice the battery first. After four to six weeks, a weak battery may not have enough charge to crank the engine. By the time we arrive, the owner often says, “It ran fine last time.” That may be true.
What Sitting Does Underneath
Tires can get flat spots when the weight sits in one position too long. Sometimes they smooth out after driving, sometimes they thump badly enough that the driver thinks something broke. We also see low tire pressure when the weather swings from 40 degrees to 12 overnight.
Brakes are another one. Surface rust is normal, but heavy rust can make the pads stick to the rotors. A few things we look for on these calls:
- Dead or clicking battery
- Flat or cracked tires
- Fuel smell or old gas
- Stuck brakes
- Rodent damage under the hood
- Leaks under the engine or transmission
The Bottom Half of the Problem: Moving It Again
This is where Saline towing often becomes the better choice than forcing the issue. If the car will not roll, or the brakes are locked, dragging it across a driveway can damage tires, suspension parts, or the pavement. We would rather slow down and get it loaded the right way.
We also ask where the car has been sitting. Gravel driveway, tight apartment lot, barn, backyard, repair shop, each one changes the plan. A flatbed may be best, but sometimes we need extra room just to angle the truck without tearing up grass.
Jump Starts Are Not Always Enough
A jump start can help if the battery is just low. It will not fix bad fuel, seized brakes, a dead alternator, or wiring chewed by mice. We have had Saline towing calls where the engine started, but the car still could not move because the brake caliper was frozen.
Our opinion is simple: do not keep cranking it for ten minutes. That can cook the starter or flood the engine. If it starts and smells wrong, leaks, smokes, or will not shift smoothly, stop there. Saline towing is cheaper than turning a small storage problem into a repair bill with extra zeros.
How Long Is Too Long?
A month is enough to drain an older battery. Three months can bring tire and fuel issues. Six months or more, we expect surprises. Around Washtenaw County, cars parked through winter usually need a closer look before anyone tries driving them on US-12 or toward Ann Arbor.
For people storing a car, we like simple habits. Start it correctly, keep tires aired up, use a battery maintainer, and move it a few feet now and then. If it has already been sitting too long, Saline towing can get it to a shop without guessing in the driveway.
Nationwide Towing Handles Saline Towing Calls From Driveways, Lots, and Back Roads
Nationwide Towing has served Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti Township, Washtenaw County, Saline, and nearby Southeast Michigan communities since 2014. Our crew has more than 50 years of combined towing experience, and our fleet includes light-duty tow trucks, flatbeds, landolls, lowboys, rotators, and tandem rollbacks.
For a car that sat too long, Saline towing may mean a jump start, a flatbed tow, roadside help, or moving the vehicle to a repair shop before more damage happens. We see these calls near garages, apartment lots, farms, and side streets after Michigan weather has had time to do its work.