Car won't start...

[NoiZe Na]

Hello everyone. I own a '92 Mercury Sable (3.8 engine) and it has been sitting in my parking lot for a year now. The problem is, a year ago I started it and it blew a cloud of black smoke through the exhaust. It never ever started again. Prior to that, it was having just a little trouble starting...for about a week or so. The fuel filter was immediatly replaced, but that did not solve the problem. When this happened, the lights worked (I had power, battery was new) but now, of course, the battery died.

What could it be?

Thank you!

Peace...