I drove a 1979 Dodge van from Georgia to Utah. It would occasionally stall and had a hard time starting when it wasn't warmed up. I found out that the carburetor was leaking but it would run fine once warmed up. Now it won't even start. I don't want to tow it to a mechanic. Where do I even start in diagnosing this problem? I let the car run dry on gas once and the not starting at all problem started shortly thereafter so I suspect that may be part of the problem, but it was having problems prior. It tries to turn over but won't completely fire up. It very much seems like a fuel problem. Any help would be much appreciated. Where do I go from here, I'm not exactly great with cars, but anything not completely overhaul-wise I should be able to figure out.

Thanks in advance.

 

The fuel pump sounds like a very good possibility. You can try spraying starting fluid or carb cleaner down into the carb then see if you can get it to run momentarily. If it does, change the fuel filter. If that doesn't solve it, then change the fuel pump.

 

Usually if you run the tank dry, the dirt and sediment in the bottom of the tank gets into the fuel filter and possibly the carb. This will cause an engine not to fire.

Replace the fuel filter. try starting.

If no start then, rebuild the carb.

 

Okay, so I replaced my fuel filter right before my trip, would running out of gas that time gunk it up that quick?

 

Contrary to my astute colleague's option above, running a tank dry does not suck any debris off the bottom of the fuel tank. Fuel is always pulled out of the tank at the same spot, regardless of the fuel level. That being said, running a tank dry will not introduce anything into the fuel line that wouldn't be there with a full tank.