Since this darn pandemic started my 2013 Accord has been sitting in the garage and unused. As of a few months ago, the battery died and since I've been on lock down it has just sat. I just planned to call AAA battery service when I was ready to start driving it again but not really up to it health wise I've been procrastinating.

Now the tire on the right front was getting low so I purchased the Dewalt inflator to take care of that but I'm wondering if I should add some gas when AAA comes just to freshen it a bit. Since my health is slowing me down, the car is still in showroom condition and the engine only still has 6,000 original miles.

I purchased it out right new off the truck in late 2013 and just planned it as my last car. I want to keep it, as I just used it for Dr appointments and any short runs and emergency use if needed. My wife can do what she wants with it later. I bought her an SUV at the same time I purchased my Honda so she'll probably sell it as she prefers hers.

Besides re-imputting my digital radio codes anything else I should be aware of? I'm certain it will start, and I should take it for a spin, and maybe add a gal of fresh gas from AAA service, trying to get my ducks in a row now. Thanks.

Air up the tire, jump start it, drive it, fuel up as needed. 6 months is nothing.

I used one of those solar thingys that plugs into the lighter socket to keep my police car alive when I wasn’t driving it.

It had a lot of drain when the car wasn’t running due to the electronics and camera etc. if I didn’t drive it for a few days it was dead

depending on 'where' its been sitting you may want to consider an oil change

Agree, air up the tire, get it jump started, or take the battery out and down to an Autozone or Advance auto, have them charge it up for you, see if it's good. If not get a new one.

Pick up some gas fuel stabilizer, like Sta-Bil for your tank, that way you won't get problems with long term storage of fuel, the Ethanol is the biggest problem on storage of fuel.

YOu should be fine, have your wife drive it once a month if you can't, just to get its oils warm and everything moving.

If you think long periods of non-use will continue, I would recommend putting ethanol free gas in this car. Otherwise, once you get it up and running, give it a good long drive, if you can. Cars need to be driven and you may prevent seals from leaking, or stop a little bit of seepage from becoming a leak. Hope you are feeling better

If the battery is an original 2013, buy a new one. Put a Battery Tender on it when it will sit unused.

https://www.amazon.com/Battery...harger/dp/B000CITK8S

Since the car has been in a garage, you probably don't have to worry about this, but your first few stops may be very noisy due to rust buildup on the brake rotors. This will go away after the rust is scraped off. The tires, especially the low one, may "flat-spot," so your first few miles might be a little rough until they smooth out.

Six months is nothing. The battery doing dead is not abnormal; if it *completely* discharges, I hear they can be toast. Yes, a nice drive to full speed through all of the gears, plenty of stop/go to unstick any brakes, and top it off with fuel.

I'll set tires at 40 pounds or higher if the vehicle will sit unused.

If you take it for a drive, travel at least 30 minutes at highway speeds to recharge battery and warm everything up. A short trip around the block isn't sufficient. It will be fine. And as others have said, do not store with Ethanol gas.

Great suggestions, thanks all. I've thought about purchasing one of those trickle chargers like mentioned above, thats doable for the future. Unfortunately because of stroke symptoms I've basically no use of my left arm/hand and balance is shot, so doing any of the physical stuff isn't within my capabilities..I'd do it all myself in a heartbeat if I could, and always in the past did.

Also egregore, thanks for that tip too. I was thinking about flat spots also.

Other than what has already been mentioned, adding fresh ethanol-free gas would be a start.

Hopefully they aren't 7+ year old tires you'll be riding on. You may want to consider replacing all five when you can.

Checking all of the fluid levels would be a good idea before venturing out on the road.

Let the car idle for about 15-20 minutes in the driveway before your first voyage would allow for circulation of the coolant, refrigerant, oil, etc... and make sure the temperature sensor(s) will turn the cooling fans so it won't overheat as you take it down the road.

Warming over a dead battery wouldn't get you far in the long run. Either way, make sure your trips are over 12 minutes to allow a full heat cycle of the car and the battery to be adequately recharged.

I think it will be fine, given it's been only 6 months. I'd air the tires and put a new battery in it and drive it until the fuel in it is low then refill. Is it possible to have your wife drive it at least 1 day a month so that it gets used? Even twice a month would be best. Even with covid your wife, or a neighbor or someone can drive it around without making any stops.

My own car sat for about that long when I ruptured an Achilles tendon in 2012. And outside, too. Surprisingly, the battery stayed up, but the engine was difficult to start and ran rough for a few seconds after. And the brakes sounded awful for the first few stops.

I’m not sure I would recommend going out and buying a new battery just yet. I would get a battery charger/maintainer like this NOCO

https://www.amazon.com/NOCO-GE...o%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-5

Then if the battery is fine just leave it hooked up and it will trickle charge your battery. If you have to buy a new battery you can still use this if it will be several more months until you drive it again.

I hope you feel better soon.

If it's the original battery, I would consider installing a new one. 7.5 years is about the end of its life. Moreover, chemistry wise, if the battery is dead, letting sit dead for several months is not going to have done it any favors. Lead acid batteries are happiest fully charged. I would recommend a battery trickle charger for the new battery to keep the battery at optimal charge during long periods of disuse.

If the tires are original, I would also consider installing all new tires. Tires degrade over time. 7.5 years is getting up there with regards to tire lifespan.

If it's been 1 year since your last oil change, I would change the oil. Engine oil has a service life measures both in miles and elapsed time. 1 year is the outside limit of the service life.

I would top off the tank with some fresh fuel. Take it for a long drive, and top off with more fresh fuel in it.

I live in PA and put a car away every winter. A solid 5 month rest. Jump it, drive it. Top it off with high octane to bring up the tank quality.

Damn, my Honda Prelude sat dormant in the garage for 4 years while my hips got replaced, under a tranny change. Started right up with a jump, but that was before Ethanol. Fill it back up with fresh gas and you'll be good to go.

Great advice given as usual. Six month sit, in and of itself. is no big deal. Lots of military folks get deployed for six months, get home and drive off the storage lot. A good number of new vehicles as well as used might sit that long before sold and driven.

I've been storing a 2003 Honda Civic for 3 to 9 months at a time outside for several years now. When it's going to be stored, I disconnect the positive cable on the battery. Each time I'm going to drive it, I reconnect the battery and it starts up fine. After a while, I picked up a battery cut-off switch at Harbor Freight and use that to disconnect the battery by twisting a knob instead of using a wrench. A battery tender would likely be better and easier, though.

I've also found it best to remove the windshield wipers and place them in the trunk so they don't get dried out in the sun. In a garage, that's likely not needed.