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My Car Ran Out Of Gas, Won't Start, What Should I Do?

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14 Answers

greg brown Profile
greg brown answered
Fuel pump probably went bad, they keep there cool from being in the gas and when you run low can pick/up dirt water etc. I have seen lots of cars run out and ruin the pump. But you could try a fuel filter and get checked by a much before buying a new one.
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
Try turning the ignition on without starting for a few seconds, then off for a few seconds- do that about 6 times.  That may prime the system, then if it starts but won't keep running, you have a bad pump.  The only other thing is running from the bottom of the tank, you may have picked up some debris and blocked the filter.  Replace the filter first- by the way- when the filter is loose from the tank side, turn the key on momentarily.  If gas runs out, your pump is working.  You can sometimes hear it by taking the cap off and have someone turn on the key too.
Ronnie Maye Profile
Ronnie Maye answered
Was you driving it when it ran out of gas, or did you just get in it and it would not start. If it was the later part, I would say the fuel pump is bad, if driving down the road and it ran out of gas I know of no way to reset the pump. Try beating on the tank with a hammer and a block of wood, if it is the pump, sometimes they will run a while when doing this but it will quit again.
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
On a modern fuel injected engine the fuel pump is cooled and lubricated by the fuel. So when you ran out of gas the fuel pump ran for a short time with no cooling or lubrication.

This is known to destroy the fuel pump. Sorry, I hope this is not your problem.
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
You need to pressurize the tank, I used a air compressor wrapped a rag around the nozzle removed the gas cap and stuck it in there and away I went.
John Profile
John answered
If you ran the engine completely out of fuel then you may have clogged the filter from sediment in the tank or the fuel pump has lost it's prime and can not regain it...or by running out of fuel you may have fouled the fuel injectors...you do not say if this is fuel injected or carbureted...
larry cook Profile
larry cook answered
Clogged fuel  filter or bad fuel pump
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
It takes 6 gallons to start up. If you turn the key and can hear the pump then the pump is good. Mine did the same thing and it took 6 gallons to get it to start.
larry cook Profile
larry cook answered
Have you pulled fuel line to see if gas comes out you might of had junk in the tank an now its plugged the line
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
If you haven't tried it yet you might have to pump the gas peddle a couple times to get fuel into the engine just don't pump it to much or you could flood the engine
Jarad Collier Profile
Jarad Collier answered
Everyone that says "You might have damaged your fuel pump" is an Fing moron.  Your car won't start because your battery is dead.  Get someone to hook jumper cables to your car and let it stay hooked for a minute, then try turning the key.  Your car will start.  I just had this happen to me.  Turning the key did nothing, pumping the gas did nothing, the car made rapid clicking noises but did not turn over.  When I jumped it, it started.

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