Running out of fuel is usually the last thing people want to do when going for a drive but it happens more often than most people think. The modern car engine and its fuel system have h quite complicated and running out of fuel can lead to the uncomfortable situation of the car not starting back up.
Thankfully, it isn’t too difficult to get the car moving and we have explained it below in The 4-Step Process of Restarting a Car That Has Run out Of Fuel
- Fill Up Your Tank
Look, this goes without saying but obviously your car or truck will need its fuel to get back running again. The good news is: you do not need to fill the fuel tank up all the way to get it going. All you need is a couple of gallons to get the car to the nearest fuel station.
For this reason, it’s always a great idea to carry something called a “Jerry Can” with you to store the fuel. Hopefully, you can get a friendly person to give you a ride to the nearest fuel station where you can purchase the gas.
Get back to your car and fill the tank in a safe manner. One thing to keep in mind is to ensure that you are getting the right type of fuel.
- Let the fuel get into the system
You have to understand that the fuel system doesn’t consist of a single hose that runs all the way to the combustion chamber of the engine. It is full of nooks and crannies along with valves, so it needs some help to get the fuel flowing. To ensure the best chance of success make sure that your vehicle is level. If you’ve been stranded up or downhill, do your best to push the vehicle to a level spot.
Next, prime the gas pedal a few times before turning the engine on. This will allow the fuel an easier path to fill the fuel system.
It is important to be patient and not try to turn the engine on before the fuel has reached where it needs to be. Not only will the engine not turn on, but it can also lead to the battery being drained which is a far worse situation to be in.
- Allow the fuel injectors to do their thing
Most modern cars have some type of fuel injection system and if your car does too then it means that the fuel is pumped using an electric pump. Turn the key halfway through at which point the electrical systems like the dials and displays turn on. It is absolutely crucial not to turn the key all the way in as that can damage the car. Wait for a couple of minutes, turn off the car and repeat this a few times. After three or four times, the fuel pumps would have pumped enough fuel to allow for the car to start up without any trouble.
- Try starting the car
By this step, we assume that the fuel system is no longer dry and the ignition chamber has access to the fuel that it needs for the engine to start up. Turn the key all the way in and the car will probably splutter a few times before turning on.
It is important not to keep trying to fire the car. If it doesn’t work after a couple of tries then go back to the previous steps. Usually, this is not required and the car should fire up quite easily but that is not always the case.
Give the previous two steps a couple more goes and hopefully that will get the car running again.
Conclusion
Sometimes, your car just refuses to start. This could be because of something else that is wrong with the car that is preventing it from starting up. This can also happen if air gets trapped in the fuel system and has no way to get out.
The most important thing to do is not to get frustrated and to keep trying to turn the car on until the battery is drained.
If you have given it a decent try and it still hasn’t started then it is time to call the professionals. That is why it is paramount to sign up for some type of roadside assistance provided the car manufacturer isn’t providing. Keep their contact numbers handy and get in touch with them immediately to get yourself out of the spot of bother.
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