1988 wont start after ran out of gas

[timdm]

my 1988 bonneville has been sitting in the drivewayfor a couple months. I started it acouple of days ago. it ran for a little while then ran out of gas. I didn't make it to the gas station. put gas in the car from a gas tank and now it wont start. igot it started with a little starter fluid in the air intake but then it dies as soon as fluid is burned up. tried to keep it running with fluid thinking the pump will catch up but no luck. wont start on its own. do I have to prime injectors, or is pump bad?

[GTP Dad]

I'd replace the pump. Sounds like the pump died at the same time the engine did. If the pump is working the injectors will automatically prime themselves.

[richtazz]

I agree with GTP Dad. One thing you can check is if the pump kicks in when the key is turned on. If it doesn't, you need a pump.

[aweiserbud]

Originally Posted by timdm

my 1988 bonneville has been sitting in the drivewayfor a couple months. I started it acouple of days ago. it ran for a little while then ran out of gas. I didn't make it to the gas station. put gas in the car from a gas tank and now it wont start. igot it started with a little starter fluid in the air intake but then it dies as soon as fluid is burned up. tried to keep it running with fluid thinking the pump will catch up but no luck. wont start on its own. do I have to prime injectors, or is pump bad?

alot of newer vehicles have a pump reset button somewhere on the vehicle. they are sometimes under the dash...behind the glovebox...or even in the trunk...hidden beyond panels...refer to your manual.

[FierceGT]

In a fuel pump, the gas pumping through it also acts as a coolant for the pump. An old pump is very likely to burn up very quickly when it's pumping with no fuel.

[usmcsgtj]

Rule #1 with electric fuel pumps...never run them out of gas. This is instant fuel pump death. There is no reset, although check the fuse, fuel pump may have been saved by the fuse under the dash passenger side i think its a 20 Amp.

[bobof15c]

Agree with all here. Try pump reset, but if doesn't help, its the pump. I had the same problem with an 88Bonne and had to replace the internal gas tank fuel pump--not cheap. New pump went bad after a month and replaced it with another brand--worked forever.