I have a 1996 E350 7.3 pstd and it hasn't started since April... Van ran great but had bad bearings in the steering column. I changed out the bearings around the steering stem and it hasn't started since but turns over just fine. The main symptom is the dash loses power when key is rotating from the last run position to the spring back crank position. Basically halfway between run and start the the dash drops power. You can see the problem very well in this video I'm attaching. I filmed this moths ago so the dash is in disarray and I'm using a screw driver to activate the ignition switch. The screw driver bypasses the key cylinder which I thought was the problem but it's not. Parts I've replaced include new glow plug relay, new ignition switch, alternator rebuilt, 2 brand new batteries, new cps sensor, and also a new pcm. All fuses and relays have been checked and most have been tested, pcm gets power in run position as well. Willing to try any suggestions over again and open to anything new. Gotta get this thing figured out it's been sitting for 6 months

Thank you, please watch the video

http://youtu.be/sCpTb-CI1zw

 

It ran ok till you did the steering column work? If so I hate to say it, but it's going to be something you did with the column. Pinched wire or a wire pulled out of a big plug or something like that. Coincidences do happen and something else may be wrong, but it would be rare for that to happen.

 

I 100% agree, the problem started when I worked on the column and I've also changed everything else out. Do you know of anything in particular to look at in the dash area? I've worked on this van forever and just feel like I'm looking at the same stuff over and over

 

Did the problem start before you replaced the ignition switch? Did you replace the ignition switch afterward because of this problem? New parts can be faulty or they may have given you the wrong one.

 

All the parts I replaced were because of the problem. Only thing I replaced before was the bearings in the steering stem. Ignition switch was first thing I tried and it has the exact same issue and I believe it's a pretty universal part. Next was the glow plug relay and I thought that was the wrong part cause it was a different color and original part didn't have a part # but it is the correct one.

 

We need to do some testing next with the wires coming out of the ignition switch to see if certain ones have power in the different positions. Problem is, I can't find a diagram that is good enough to show the ignition switch. If you do not have one, you might have to get on ebay or somewhere and see if you can find one cheap.