Q: 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

asked by on June 11, 2017

I was driveing my car yesterday and my alternator belt broke and I was driving today and ran out of gas and I put a little gas in and went to start and battery was dead and got a jump and still wouldn't start. And I just had a performance fuel pump put on and just dont know what up

My car has 132000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Car is hard to start Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

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.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Power steering not working in a 2003 Acura CL
Commonly in your car, there is an o-ring on the power steering pump that will, over time, get brittle, and leak. When this happens, the pump can suck air into the power steering fluid and cause the fluid to aerate,...
Ticking noise coming from the driver's side of the engine
Often, that would be lifters making a noise. So, the first thing you'd want to do is get some good engine oil flush (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/what-does-it-mean-to-flush-fluids-in-a-car) and have the engine flushed out, and then change the oil and filter (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/change-oil-and-filter). A lot...
I changed the coil pack spark plugs and plug wires my car still runs bad why
If the engine is running bad then you should be getting a code set in the computer. If not, then a scanner should be used to view data to see if the engine is running lean or rich. Check the...
Camshaft Position Sensor (Bank 1)
Your description says bank 1 and the lower text says bank 2. It looks like there are 2 exhaust camshaft position sensors (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/camshaft-position-sensor-replacement) on the vehicle and it could be possible you replaced the wrong one. Consider hiring one of...
I have an automatic but also has the 6 speed manual. When I'm towing my 4000lb camper the truck RPMs at 2800 and only 100m/h
When a truck is towing a trailer or a fifth wheel, the engine will need to be producing maximum torque. The highest gear in most transmissions is the overdrive gear. The lowest gear typically produces the most torque from the...
I have V8 4.6 Eddie Bauer Explorer. When I take off, at the end of first and second gear there's a rattle noise.
The noise you may be hearing is a pre ignition ping caused by a combination of a lean fuel to air mixture and advanced ignition timing. The most common cause of this engine pinging noise (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/engine-is-running-louder-than-normal-inspection). You should first have...
Car won't accelerate when I press the gas pedal.
The lack of acceleration or starting may be caused by many different things, but may be a sign of a failing throttle position sensor. The throttle position sensor (TPS) is a sensor used to monitor the throttle position of the...
My 2010 Ford Ranger is not shifting right
Hi there. When this occurs on this transmission it is almost always due to an internal issue with the transmission. The most common issue I have seen is a failure in the front sprag assembly. When this assembly fails the...
Are the variable valve timing solenoid and the camshaft sensor the same?
Hello. The variable valve timing and the camshaft position sensor are two separate sensors. The camshaft position sensor is more towards the front of the engine and is a lot easier to replace. The variable valve timing sensor is a...

Related articles

The Best Used Cars to Buy If You’re a Massage Therapist
If If you're a massage therapist, one of the cornerstones of your business has to be that you don’t keep your clients waiting. That means you need a vehicle that’s reliable. You also will have to move your gear, including...
The Best Used Cars to Buy For a Graduation Gift
Your Your little bundle of joy has grown up and on the cusp of entering adulthood. Graduating is a milestone, and you want to reward their hard work and show how proud you are. Buying a used car is a...
Ten Sports Cars That Double as Good Daily Drivers
The best daily driver is a car that's reliable, usable, and still fun to drive. Popular daily sports cars include the BMW M3, Subaru WRX, and VW GTI.