Car wont start, after i ran out of gas...?

Question

I ran out of gas one day last week and my van hasn't driven right since, When i put new gas in it it went fine until it just died once going up a hill, that time i put in a new fuel pump because i thought it was blocked. It went fine then for a while until i stalled on another hill... closing the choke manually and pouring some fuel into the carb started it, but then i left it sitting a few days and then it wouldnt start, i had to close the choke and pour gas into the carb again to start it. it started but frequently just dies on me.... its an 87 dodge ram 5.2 v8... im thinking spark plugs or timing any help is greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Fuel filter may be plugged. Sometimes when you suck out all the fluid from the tank it will pick up sediment that will clog the fuel filter.

Answer 2

Sounds like a clogged fuel filter. When you run the tank dry on gas, the fuel pump sucks in all the crud at the bottom of the tank. There's a filter sock around the intake, but those sometimes allow dirt through. You replaced the fuel pump. Now you should replace the fuel filter.

Rick

I'm a retired ASE Master/L-1 Technician. I still keep current with the latest automotive technology. Visit my blog for cool articles and TSB's: http://free-auto-repair-advice.blogspot.com

Answer 3

Mastec is on it. Relatively easy test is "noid light" on one injector connector while engine is cranked for a couple of seconds. Blinking light means injectors are pulsing, and no problem with ignition circuit, no blinking light means problem with ignition circuit, not fuel system. Only way to accurately test fuel system is to test the fuel pressure, which is a real pain on TBI. You can borrow the tools free from autozone, as long as you can afford the deposit, which you will get back. You obviously have spark, or it wouldn't start with gas poured in it. It's either a fuel or ignition (not spark, just the poriton that tells the ECM the engine is turning over) problem. Edit: By the way, on a GM this vintage, the fuel pump will only run for 2 seconds when key is turned to run. If you immediately turn it off and back on, the pump will NOT run again. I do not know exactly how long the timer in the ECM for fuel pump prime takes to reset, but if the pump doesn't make noise when you turn it back to run, you haven't waited long enough, and the pump isn't working. And yes, I am intimately familiar with GM OBD1 fuel injection.

Answer 4

Pour your van a drink of gasoline have it backfire and burn your eyebrows off, it is of legal drinking age. Now that said either the engines timing chain has jumped timing or there is some blockage in the fuel filter in the carburator inlet or under the truck. How many million miles does this old 318 cid engine have on it? 2bbl carb or 4bbl?

Answer 5

Could be the filter inside the tank is getting clogged from crud that came loose when you ran out of gas. Also replace fuel filter on pump to engine.

Answer 6

sounds like a fuel filter problem....you might have 1 in line to the carb on the engine compartment you may also have 1 under the car

Answer 7

Did ya ever think of changing the gas filter ?

could even be bad gas cap or hole in the fuel line.

Answer 8

Sounds like when you ran out of gas all the dirt that was settle in the bottom of your gas tank went through? I had that happen once? I had to get my engine replace. It messed everything up?

Answer 9

Sounds like 9t is in the carb. It is loosing it's prime somehwere, somehow.

Answer 10

my guess is a carb bowl full of sediment.. plugging the jets