ts deadass got me like this

Put on glasses to see more clearly

in IDWs 2005 run, some transformers actually get old enough that their spark (essentially heart or soul) starts to run out of energy. their body would be physically fine otherwise. so if it happened in car mode, theoretically it could work as long as they had fuel

That is a could question.
Though I think they have to transform on their own, and if they're dead, they're probably pretty damaged anyway.