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Question: Cranks but will not start!

I drive very little, only about 1500 miles per year or less. Car frequently sits for weeks, without having been started. Usually starts up fine. Lately has been a very slight delay in turning over, but once it is started runs very well. By "very slight delay in turning over," I mean possibly 1-2 seconds, as its starting to crank and then actually start running.

Left house for drive-thru pharmacy. While waiting at drive-thru window, turned off engine. About 5 minutes later, attempted to start car and discovered that it cranked but would not start. You can hear the battery is working. Battery purchased February 2019 (13 months old), AAA battery. (No problems with battery have been experienced.) When battery was replaced, 13 months ago, mechanic tested alternator and reported it was working normally.

My car was disabled in drive-thru lane of pharmacy. Good Samaritan appeared to help, said likely vapor-locked and to let it sit a moment. I did so. Then told me to turn the key, try to start the car, without using gas pedal at all. I did so. It did begin to turn over, but only ran for about 2-3 seconds and then died. While it was running, the sound was weak. The gentleman assisting me checked under hood and said there is a mouse nest located under that large plastic dome (removeable). He used paper towels I had in my car to clean away some or most of that mouse nest. He then reported that a mouse might have chewed small wiring in that immediate area. I looked, however, my untrained eyes do not detect any damage to those wires. Cleaned away mouse nest and car continued to try to turn over, might run for 2-3 seconds, but then dies, again the sound of the engine running is weak. Tried repeatedly to start the car, with result that battery was drained, finally heard clicking noise and had to stop trying to start the car. AAA towed it to my home at my request.

I am an older woman living alone and on a very small budget. I cannot tolerate some expensive car repair. Obviously worried about not being treated honestly and fairly by local mechanics.

Car was purchased over 13 years ago (Sept. 2006) and has been extremely low-maintenance.

Note that if wires were "chewed by a rodent," the car did start up fairly normally, as it was first started today, after 3 weeks of sitting in carport. Started and ran normally, allowing me to drive off from home location, headed to pharmacy (one brief errand!). Also note there is a spilled brake fluid (small amount) in trunk, apparently leaking out of trunk, onto carport floor. If any part of the fuel system has to do with the trunk, possibly this information is helpful. (Don't know.) Also in terms of spark plugs, fuel pressure, I simply don't know, other than what I've already reported here. Have not yet taken for any mechanic to assess. Trying to first get a read from an objective mechanic, hopefully save me money, save me from being dishonestly treated, as I do my best to get this old car running again!

Many thanks for your time and your help!