If the tank is dry and car has not been started in a long time, what's the minimum amount of gasoline needed to.. [ol][*] ..register on the fuel guage?[*] ..start getting pumped up to the fuel rail?
[/ol]I emptied 2 gas cans into it (4 1/2 gallons total).
Fuel gauge still on E. Still doesn't start.

1992 Mazda 626, 2.2L, Manual trans
(For details see: https://www.mazdaforum.com/m_57748/tm.htm)

 

Put in at least 6 gals. BUT, if it ran dry you may have sucked up a lot of crap and plugged the fuel filter. Change it anyway. Have someone listen near the gas filler pipe to see if the fuel pump is even running with the ignition on. No noise, check fuses, good fuses, get a fuel pump. Now I don;t know if this is 100% true with the 626. My 929 also has a alternate fuel pump switch in the Mass Air Flow meter. I guess cranking the engine is enough to activate that switch so you may want to have someone listen while your cranking the engine. Depending on how long a sat I would check the distrbutor cap and rotor is the car has them.