How can I get my car started or at least put it in neutral?
Asked by Guru95KGCF Jan 12, 2021 at 11:03 PM about the 2013 MINI Countryman S FWD
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
Car has been in garage for a year and won't start. Tried jumping it with a
portable battery pack and it won't start. Want to push it out of the garage so I
can try jumping it from another car, but I can't put it in neutral. Pulled the yellow
tab to let it go into neutral, but it just broke off without disengaging. I feel stuck!
What else can I do?
4 Answers
Can you use pliers to grasp the broken neutral release?
If the battery was not disconnected when the vehicle was parked you need to replace the battery. It's beyond jumping. Hope that helps! Jim
Guru95KGCF answered 4 years ago
I can't seem to grab it with pliers... I've been trying! The answer from Jim was what I was thinking... just didn't want to admit it! I found a video online about how to change the battery myself. I'm not really handy, but it looks pretty easy. I think I'll give that a shot. I've never left a car parked for so long that the battery died... didn't know that was a thing. Live and learn! Thanks for the advice!
You're welcome. Glad to help! When replacing the battery remove the negative battery cable first then the positive battery cable (minus sign then plus sign). Then remove the battery hold down. That's usually one bolt, sometimes two. Then when you hook up the new battery put some Vaseline on the battery cable ends to prevent corrosion. Then attach the positive cable first, then the negative cable. Make sure you tighten down everything securely! Then you'll be all set! Hope that helps! Jim
