Conks Shortly After Start

[Answerprancer]

Just had a new fuel pump/filter fitted to my 2000 Ford Puma, charged the battery (as the car had been sitting for nearly 4 months) tried to start it and after a few seconds it conked, tried again - same, tried again again - gave out after an even shorter time. Switched main beam on and there was barely a glimmer. Ok, clearly I've f***ed the battery by leaving it for too long without a charge up.
Question is - if the (albeit low) battery managed to fire the engine up, surely it should keep going?

[Zacs-Master]

Not if the alternator is nackered.

[Mass_Hysteria]

Fuel? Is there any in it?
Sorry, simple answer but it does happen.

[tonyav]

Not necessarily AP, I had a Nissan Bluebird ZX turbo many years ago, Battery went duff and I couldn't even bump start it, replaced the battery and everything was good again.

[Answerprancer]

There is plenty of fuel and the pump 'primes'.
Can a car's engine run just from the alternator then MH?
Even if the battery was removed/totally flat.

[EDDIE51]

Probably 2 problems , there is still something not quite right with the fuel pump / filter so it is suffering from fuel starvation, combined with a duff battery. In fact the battery may be ok but starting 3 times in succession has drained it of what little power was left after standing 4 months. Try jump starting it from another car but keep the 2nd car engine running for a few mins with the jump leads connected and see if your car still conks out.
That way you eliminate the battery as a problem , if it still happens it is not the battery it is the fuel.

[RATTER15]

AP, Im sure it would run.

[ChuckFickens]

"Can a car's engine run just from the alternator then MH?
Even if the battery was removed/totally flat."

Yes. (It's not recommended though)

[derekpara]

Are you using fresh fuel ? If not, that could be the problem.

Fuel goes stale after a few weeks.

[Answerprancer]

There was half a tankfull in there when I left it. It was running perfectly up till yesterday.
#Update# just put a brand new fully charged battery in and checked fuel delivery:
It turns over, fires up briefly then - nothing!

[Answerprancer]

*Problem solved*
The sender on the 'new' fuel pump is permanently showing half full - it was empty!

[EDDIE51]

Thought it had to be a fuel problem.
Similar problem happened to me, in a hire car, fuel gauge reads 1/2 full and the car stops . After a LOT of hassle I found the tank was empty but the gauge was reading 1/2 full.