Problem after running out of gas

[adastran]

The other night my wife ran out of gas in her 1999 4Runner. After getting gas in it, it still wouldn't start. I was out of town, but she had it towed home for me to fix when I got back. Just as a place to start, is this likely to be a plugged fuel filter? Or maybe damaged fuel pump? Any other likely possibilities? This is my first post and I very much appreciate any help on this.
Foster

 

[CJ3Flyr]

The other night my wife ran out of gas in her 1999 4Runner. After getting gas in it, it still wouldn't start. I was out of town, but she had it towed home for me to fix when I got back. Just as a place to start, is this likely to be a plugged fuel filter? Or maybe damaged fuel pump? Any other likely possibilities? This is my first post and I very much appreciate any help on this.
Foster

Welcome! Sorry you're having issues.

I would put gas in it, duh! And by gas I mean at least 5 gallons not just 1 gallon. Next I would turn the key to the run position but don't crank it. Let it sit 20-30 seconds like that and then try to start it.

Good luck and I feel for you, stuff always breaks when your away from home:bash:

 

[MikesToy]

Welcome aboard! Did you step on the gas pedal at least twice before starting it?

 

[rook]

Welcome aboard! Did you step on the gas pedal at least twice before starting it?

:ak472: sure, then check the points and have the carb cleaned :ak472:

What CJ is suggesting is a good start, ignore Mike. The pump needs to build up pressure all the way to the fuel rail in order for the truck to run again. There may be some air in the sysyem. You should hear the fuel pump turn on when the key is turned to the on position. Try cycling it a few times.

If no luck, then change the fuel filter. You could also do a qulck fuel pressure test when the line is disconnected from the filter, provided you have a partner and a something to safely recover the gasoline.

 

[Markjr]

i had a simmaler problem in my old car, pretty much the hose from the gas tank to the filter then to the engine is probaly partly empty with air bubbles in there from the pump pumping no gas. A few things i did were popping the gas cap if it was hot outside because of pressure, another thing is to disconnect the fuel filter to let any air out that may be built up in the hoses around the filter. The best thing is to get a pressure gauge (at auto zone you put 150$down then return it when your done and get the money back) once you have it, hook it all up (directions come with the guage) and there is an excess hose that when your car is cranking over you can press a button on the hose and it will let some of the gas flow out, now if there are bubbles then you will see them come out of the hose. you can do this on the input hose and output hoses of the fuel filtet this should get rid of most air in the system.

 

[004Gunner]

I don't intend to call anyones intelligence into question here, but are you sure it stopped running in the first place because it ran out of gas? I just wonder because it wasn't you driving at the time and maybe your wife just assumed that it ran out of gas.

 

[rook]

I don't intend to call anyones intelligence into question here, but are you sure it stopped running in the first place because it ran out of gas? I just wonder because it wasn't you driving at the time and maybe your wife just assumed that it ran out of gas.

:girl:

oops, did she forget to mention the big puddle she ran through and the oil light

:jk:

 

[MikesToy]

:
What CJ is suggesting is a good start, ignore Mike.

Geeeeee.....
Does the '99 have the same ignition capabilities as the '03+ ???

 

[004Gunner]

oops, did she forget to mention the big puddle she ran through and the oil light

:jk:

Haha the last time I read a post that contained the words 'oil light' and 'wife' in the same sentence it led to a full tutorial on rebuilding the engine! I hope this problem did start with a simple thing such as running out of gas, I have just been around too many people that require asking the most basic of questions.

 

[G.I.G.]

Geeeeee.....
Does the '99 have the same ignition capabilities as the '03+ ???

Haha, don't take any offense. I think what rook was implying is that on fuel injected cars, pumping the gas pedal before you start it does nothing.

What CJ recomended sounds like good advice. Get plenty of gas in there, turn the ingintion to "on" without cranking it to allow the fuel pump to build pressure in the system, then give it a go after cycling it a couple times and you should be good. There is probably some air in the system which is not a big deal. People run out of gas all the time and it usually just requires putting gas in and going again. I doubt any damage has occurred either.

 

[gizmopt2002]

I've ran out of gas one to many times. Fill 'er up, and crank it give the pedal some gas. Do that a few times. It will start, I can almost garantee you.

Most recently was this past Friday. I had a rusted out fuel line. .5 MPG = world record, highest MPG in a 4Runner ever.