Device for operating a vehicle engine with a starter

The operating device has a starter (12) with an electric motor (14) for starting the internal combustion engine (10). The electric motor (14) drives the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine (10) via a transmission for starting the internal combustion engine (10). The internal combustion engine (10) has a fuel injection device through which fuel is injected into the intake system or directly into the combustion chambers of the cylinders of the internal combustion engine (10). The fuel injection device has a fuel pump (40) in order to deliver fuel in the required quantity and to compress it to the required injection pressure. The electric motor (14) is used to drive the fuel pump (40), whereby the fuel pump (40) can be driven by the electric motor (14) permanently or after starting the internal combustion engine (10). Thus, no separate drive motor is required for the fuel pump (40).