Alex Robbins is contributing editor at Telegraph Cars where, as well as responding to readers’ queries, he also contributes reviews of new and used cars, together with articles on buying and selling. 

His knowledge of the used car market informs his many buying guides relating to the best buys in particular sectors, with an emphasis on value for money.  Every week he will answer your questions on buying and selling, as well as solving your car problems, whether consumer or mechanical.

Do you have a motoring dilemma you’d like our expert to solve?  For consumer and used car advice, or car faults, email CarsAdvice@telegraph.co.uk and include your subscriber number. This week’s question…

Dear Alex, 

My 2013 Vauxhall Corsa has been standing in a garage since September 2019. We expected to be away for only six months, but Covid intervened and we are still in South Africa. The car was started regularly but in June 2020 the battery died and we decided not to replace it and put it on a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). We are returning on March 16 but will the car’s electronics have been affected? Will the tyres have been damaged through not rotating? Is there anything else we should be concerned about?

– NB

Dear NB,

I wouldn’t be too worried about the car’s electronics. Short of a stopped clock and perhaps the loss of your stored radio presets, there isn’t too much damage that a flat battery can have done. 

If your car had been standing for several years, I’d have suggested removing the spark plugs, dropping oil down the bores and cranking it by hand first, to check it was seized. However, your car has only been at rest for a year and a half, which isn’t too long, so I expect the engine is fine. 

What I would be tempted to do, however, is to remove the fuel pump relay (which will be located in the fuse box, just next to the battery) and crank the engine on the starter motor for a few seconds – until the oil light on the dashboard goes out. The car will not start, but the oil pump will turn, which will allow oil to circulate throughout the engine. Then replace the fuel pump relay and start it up. 

This procedure isn’t strictly necessary, although doing so allows oil that has drained away from the bores into the sump to make its way back into the top of the engine, so you get lubrication from the moment you start the engine. 

You may find the battery will take a jump start (or start using a jump pack – you can buy one from any good motor factors if you don’t already have one), but if not you’ll probably need to replace it. 

Once the car is running, the first thing you’ll have to do is to get it to a nearby mechanic for its MOT. I suggest you also get a full service done at the same time, and I’d also suggest budgeting for four new tyres – the old ones will probably have flat-spotted by now. And even if they haven’t, they may have gone hard or perished. 

Get the mechanic to undertake a detailed inspection. Indeed, you should let them know it’s been off the road a couple of years, and you’re planning to use it again regularly, in order to check all issues that might have an impact on reliability. 

Cars that have been standing for a while can need new brake parts, but you might get away without these, given that the car’s been stored in a garage. It’s worth being prepared to spend a bit of money sorting out anything that might have perished or deteriorated during your time away. 

Oh, and one more thing – before you do any of the above, thoroughly check the whole car (including the wheel arches and engine bay) for evidence of animal nesting or damage. Even though the car’s been in the garage, mice and rats can still get in. Dry leaves, grass and other nesting materials can act like a tinderbox when exposed to a hot exhaust for the first time, and if a rodent has chewed through a hose or some electrical cabling it could result in damage to the engine or prevent the car from starting altogether.

For new and used buying guides, tips and expert advice, visit our Advice section, or sign up to our newsletter here

To talk all things motoring with the Telegraph Cars team join the Telegraph Motoring Club Facebook group here

A-Z Car Finder