Cranking/Starting issues after fuel runout

[byaru1]

So, my 3.0si ran out of fuel a few days back in city traffic (yes, poor route planning, guilty as charged). I added fuel thereafter and it started. Next morning, engine only started after 3 cranking attempts. And been the same for last 4 days.

When stationery a few hours, it has to be cranked a few times to start. It's definitely related to the fuel running out, but can't really put my head around the exact issue.

A week before that, there was water I had to drain from that section under the fusebox as a result of a leak at the upper section of the tailgate, which I fixed with silicon gel, but I wonder if this could also have caused some issues, as I believe this water would have made its way down via or near the fuse area.

Pointers appreciated.

Sent from my moto g(8) power lite using Tapatalk