can a alternator belt make car not start because I was driving my car and I ran out of gas and i put a little gas in? belt broke

ANSWER : Hi there. It is very difficult to diagnose this type of hard to start issue remotely due to the fact that both issues; running the vehicle out of gas and the alternator belt being broken can cause the car to not start. It’s kind of like a chicken / egg type deal. In order for the fuel pump to deliver fuel, it needs power. It receives this power from the battery initially, but then the alternator. If the alternator belt is broken, you won’t have power supplied to components. It is best to have a professional mobile mechanic complete a car is hard to start inspection to determine what is causing the starting problems on your Dodge Neon.

ANSWER : This would suggest that you may have a charging system problem as well as the car potentially being in limp mode. When the car goes into limp mode this is a measure the car’s computer takes in an effort to keep you and the car safe when one or more critical components is not working properly. When this happens you should have a Check Engine Light on which will register fault codes in the car’s computer which will point to specific components. I would recommend having an certified expert, like one from YourMechanic, come to your home to diagnose your starting issue and help you repair it.

ANSWER : The issue you are having is probably due to an intermittent fault in the starter motor itself or a deficiency in the starter electrical circuit, for example a large voltage drop due to a poor ground or a high resistance connection. These issues can be readily diagnosed and resolved on a mobile basis if you request a hard starting diagnostic. If you request that diagnostic, the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you promptly. Based on Toyota’s Factory Service Manual, the battery should not be disconnected if the vehicle engine is running. The battery acts as a large resistive voltage sink and consequently taking the battery out of the circuit, while the alternator is still running, can create a voltage spike on the car’s electrical system which is not good for voltage sensitive components such as the engine computer. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

ANSWER : If the starter motor itself is not functioning (i.e., no engine cranking), then the starter circuit has to be diagnosed. If the starter motor is functioning, but the car is not starting, you could have a circumstance where the fuel pump overheated because it was run dry. That could cause the pump impeller seal to fail. First, check for the characteristic, but momentary, whirring sound from the in-tank fuel pump at key "on". If no fuel pump operation is detected at key "on", check for battery voltage at the pump wire harness at key "on". If no voltage is detected, that circuit has to be diagnosed all the way back to the battery to find the fault. If there is power to the pump, but no momentary pump operation at key "on", the pump would be condemned and replaced. If the pump does operates, check fuel pressure in fuel rail to confirm that it is operating properly and supplying adequate pressure. If you desire that a certified mechanic resolve this, please request a no start diagnostic and the responding mechanic will get it diagnosed and repaired for you. Please let us know if you have further concerns or questions as we are always here to help you.

ANSWER : Hello. The gas that you used should not have any problems after only a few days. If the fuel was that low, the issue may be a failed fuel pump. When the fuel gets this low, the pump overheats and fails. The fuel cools the pump. The pump and pressure will need to be checked to verify this. If you need to have this done, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to diagnose your starting issue and replace your fuel pump if necessary.

ANSWER : There are reports that the replacement alternators will not communicate with the engine computer and will not charge correctly. I recommend using only the manufacturer approved replacement part. It can be new or remanufactured but approved for use in the vehicle. Some lower cost alternators on the aftermarket will have charging problems since they will not communicate with the ECM on the vehicle and will stop charging.

ANSWER : Based on the information you gave, it sounds like a possible fuel starvation issue, caused by a partially blocked, in-tank fuel filter or a crack in the fuel pump housing. The remedy would be to replace the fuel pump assembly and filter. The overheating may be caused by several things, including a stuck thermostat, faulty water pump, or even a cracked head gasket. I suggest having a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, inspect the relevant systems to pinpoint the cause of your vehicle’s hard starting issue and overheating problem.

ANSWER : With a car that cranks but won’t start, there are a few things that need to be checked. But before I explain them, there is a common thing that happens with Nissan’s. Every once in awhile they will flood the cylinders with fuel and wash the oil film off the cylinder walls and rings. This will reduce compression enough that the car will not start. Fortunately, there is an easy fix for this problem. It is what is known as clear flooding.

Hold the gas pedal all the way to the floor while cranking the motor. It won’t start immediately and when it does it will not run very well at first. Feather the throttle to keep it running until the motor clears out the excess fuel and the motor begins to run smoothly. If after cranking the motor with the gas pedal held to the floor for at least