QuestionMY CAR RAN OUT OF GAS FOR THE FIRST TIME AND WHEN I PUT GAS IN IT, IT WOULDN'T START. I CAN'T FIND THE FUEL PUMP SWITCH. IF I PUT STARTER SPRAY WOULD IT WORK? OR WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST.. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP.
AnswerHi Avalina,
Sorry to be a little slow in getting back to you.
I wouldn't try starter spray yet, but rather see if you can't get some fuel into the fuel injection system. I have a couple of suggestions.
1. If it is convenient, get another can of fuel and put it in the tank just to make sure that there is a deeper pool of gas in the tank to help the fuel pump get the flow going good.
2. I would try to run the fuel pump by itself (like your idea of the "switch" for the fuel pump, but in this case the switch is actually called the fuel pump relay and it is located in the power distribution center under the hood). So locate a large rectangular box near the battery (behind and to the right of it as viewed from the front of the car) that has a removable lid and remove that lid. There is a diagram on the lid that will show you which of the square cans in the box is the fuel pump relay.
Before doing anything with the relay, check fuse # 18 (10 amp) and fuse A (20 amp) which both have to be o.k. to get the fuel pump to work normally. If either of those is blown get a new fuse.
Once you have verified the fuses, and if you have a piece of electrical wire handy, then remove the fuel pump relay.
Notice in the socket for the relay that there are five plug-in holes, and on the relay 5 prongs. Looking at the socket, notice that (ignoring the center hole) that the opposite side pairs of holes (looking directly across from side to side) are either parallel to oneanonther or at right angle to oneanother. The pair that you want to connect together by means of your piece of electical wire are the pair that are at right angles to oneanother (you may see numbers on the holes, the ones to connect together are numbered 30 and 87). So insert one end of your wire into 30 and the other into 87. When you do that you should hear the whirring sound of the fuel pump from the gas tank area of the car. Let that run for about 60 seconds. Then remove the piece of wire, re-insert the relay back in the socket, put the lid on the distribution center, then try to start the car. You should get a start unless as the result of running the fuel out you accidentally drew a lot of debris in the bottom of the tank into the fuel filter and blocked it. So if you don't get a start, then let me know and I'll describe how to change the fuel filter.
I don't see any reason why simply running out of fuel should cause anyother parts to fail. So "priming the pump" by using the jumper wire should get the pressure up enough for a start.
Also, if this doesn't get it started let me know, and let me know if you have a voltohmmeter for further electrical testing.
Roland
