Okay so I have a 1995 Ford E350 15 Passanger Van that use to be my daily driver but for the past five years has only been used as my tow vehicle. I don't drive it like I use to but with daily driver troubles since November I have needed to use it daily. So here is the issue. My van runs like a top and then at random times it refuses to start. At first it was completely random and then it became more and more of an issue. The first time it happened was at the last race last September. I eventually jump started it and it got me home. When I got home the van "died" all together. I replaced the the lugs on the battery and cleaned the terminals and all seemed fine. Then it became a random not starting issue. We replaced the ICM and all seemed fine. Then one day while driving down the interstate it just "died". Everything shut off and I began to coast, then it refired on its own and made it home. It then became a starting issue. It turns over fine but won't fire. The weird thing is that the problem was completely random. I could take it to the shop and it started up everytime. Finally, we replaced plugs, wires, etc. Then I drove it about 100 miles and it would not start. I carried a bottle of ether and sure enough it coughed, sputtered and finally started. Got home replaced the fuel pump, relay, and filter. It started right up. Finally problem fixed. On the way home one day from work, less than a week later, it completely died again. Everything shut down and I coasted this time stuck on the side of the road. Towed to shop and I get a call the next day, "it started right up". So mechanic kept it and could not get it to not start. Then Monday he called and said it finally would not start. He replaced the ICM again and it fired right up. Picked it up this morning and now I am in the parking lot and it won't fire. I am at the end of my rope and can't figure out what it could possibly be. Any suggestion, other than an exocism. Thanks in advance.
dan

 

I keep a cheap 20 dollar EEC-IV code reader so i can see if the ECU is keeping the engine from starting.

It could be a few things, but a dying/faulty fuel pump comes to mind. Or a fuel pump relay. I have personally experienced both, and i finally diagnosed it by connecting a fuel pressure gauge and monitoring it. Its possible that the timing set is worn and wanders, but that seems unlikely.

 

This ^^^ for sure but the fuel pressure regulator should be checked just to make sure its functioning properly. If the fuel pump is new yet continues dying or refusing to start I'd suggest checking the connector or wiring to the pump from the chassis.

Then again its entirely possible one or more of the new components already installed have failed which wouldn't be impossible. Once its running "normal" again check the fuel pressure with a gauge at its test port---or have the repair shop do this for you.

Hope its nothing too serious or costly!

 

Sounds like a bad PIP sensor to me. That is what they do.
Either buy a new distributor or put a new PIP (stator assy) in it.
Do not buy a rebuilt one from an auto part store as 90% of them have bad PIP sensors in them.

As 95el50CW said above check the codes and you should see the error for the PIP sensor in the CM codes.
But use a code reader that has a read out and not one with a flashing LED, you already have that one on your dash.

The one below is only about $30.00 at O'Reilly auto parts or less on line at amazon.

At amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00..._rd_i=15706941

At O'Reilly:
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...0664&ppt=C0103

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I had the coil on my '93 E350 5.8 do the same thing to me, random no start and stall, but one day it just refused to fire at the house. Being lazy, I guessed and put an ignition module on it and when that didn't work I did a real diagnosis and it was the coil.