I've been having a similar problem, if you haven't found it yet. The fuel pump relayon my 1994 is located under the hood, left of and below the battery. I didn't see where you said what year your van was. Or which engine your van has? It is in the plastic case with the rest of the relays and a few fuses. Do you hear a noise from the fuel pump when you turn the key on? Or does it run if you squirt a little starting fluid in the intake? That would eliminate a few things to check. Perch57

 

"Frankly", it was quite obvious you "don't give a damn".

Not a "plan". Not "negligence". Merely what "you're actually doing".

Disregard the "fat chance" corrosion/contamination effects of "bad gas" might be to blame for your 'will not start' complaint. I assure you "my heart won't be broken".

 

I've thought about either doing that or taking it one step further and figuring out a way to mount a Bronco tank on it. I can't see spending the money of doing either until we get this thing back to running dependably again. We've had a year and a half of problems with this van, and now it doesn't want to start. If my son and I cannot figure out what's wrong with it, the van just may end up being a parts vehicle at the local junkyard.

 

She's got the 6 banger in her. Thanks for the picture though. At least I have an idea of what to look for. I am sure disconnecting the line at the regulator would be easier than having to get underneath it and doing it at the filter. The van is back here at home now, so we only have a gravel driveway area to work on it.

 

Do you live to be an ***?

 

Contributing tips to help forum readers & an ingrate solve 'will not start' issue makes me "an ***"?

Asks one who can't start his truck & has been driving around for 3 years with a tank full of bad gas that was old gas back then.

Did you cut open the "clogged" filter to determine what "clogged" it?

 

Play nice or someone will get the teacher.

 

UPDATE: Well, the time has come to take the van to the junkyard. The wife and I had a long talk last night, and she really doesn't want to mess with it anymore. We took a look at our finances, counted all our nickles and dimes, and we have just enough to get something else. My son and I did take a look at the van today and we were able to get it running for a short time. The fuel pump is most likely what's wrong with it, so you guys were right about that. What we ended up doing in pouring some gasoline into the spout looking tube that goes from the intake to the air filter and the van started. We did that maybe three or four times. The last time we tried starting it the starter got stuck (probly the solenoid) and it cranked and cranked and cranked until the battery died (Yeah, probly should have had some wrenches there handy to disconnect the battery more quickly). Anyway, at the very least, it needs the fuel pump and the solenoid. I am sure it will make a good parts van at the junkyard, but I have to admit that I am a little sad at seeing it go. The wife is insisting that she doesn't want another one, so it looks like we won't be replacing it with another Ford van. We've had so many of them over the years, the thought of not having one seems so strange to me. Again, thanks for the suggestions and join me in saying good-bye to the 89 Van we only gave $800 for that we got three years out of.

 

i wouldnt get rid of it just because of a $40 intank pump and a 50$ frame pump, those engines are very reliable, todays vans are really junk, all todays motors are aluminum head garbage,.. just get rear tank to work, drop the rear tank get an airtex brand intank pump at advance auto for 40 bucks , i got the frame pump on ebay 50$, usually the frame pump doesnt go bad,,,u did check inertia crash switch and fuel pump relay? i bypassed both bit i dont recomend u do it,, check for 12 volts going to the pumps its really not all that hard

 

Well, it's not just because of $100 or so in parts and the time to replace them. It's several things, the most pressing one being that my wife is simply tired of driving vans. We figured it out this afternoon, and we have not gone without a van for 10 years straight, not counting other times we've had them in the 26 years we've been together. I love driving a van, she doesn't. Besides, there are other things this van needs--tilt steering broken, A/C system needs rebuilt, the exhaust is due for replacement, the window motor on the passenger side needs replaced. I am sure we'll end up getting another one eventually, but she's the main one who drives this van and she wants something else. I care more about her being happy than I do about us having a van. So, she's gonna get her way and deservedly so.

The only possible way we will keep this van is if my son agrees to make it a father/son project. He and I talked about doing that today, but he's not sure he wants to do it with a van. He's always had doing a truck in mind for the automotive father/son project. If he decides he wants to go that route, then we might go ahead and keep the old girl. I told him that, if nothing else, we could pull the engine and tranny out of it and then go find a truck to put them into. I know this much--that would be one sweet van in restored condition. I can just picture it with the interior redone, fresh paint, new rims and tires, new running boards, a spare tire mount on the back door with a nice cover over the tire..............makes me smile just thinking about it.

 

what year is your van? it may very well be the fuel pump relay, on my 1988 van it is located on the passenger side under the hood on the fender wall you may have to remove the battery to get to it, you can take it to Autozone or most any parts store to have it checked. My van did the same thing while driving it, I thought that it was maybe the fuel filter so I replaced it and it ran for a few days and did the same thing thats when I found out it was the relay, I guess that it was working until it got hot and then failed, they are inexpensive mine cost around 15 dollars at AutoZone. hope this helps.

 

It's an 89 with the 300/6. I can hear the pump turning on when the key is in the on position.

 

mine is a 88 with the 300 6cyl, I would pull the pump relay and take it to autozone if you have one nearby and have it checked like i said before it is a square plug-in type usually black in color and located on the passenger side wall next to the battery, you may have to take the battery out, if it was running you could take it to autozone and they would run an engine diagnosis for you free of charge, but since it isn't you will need to pull the relay. hope this helps

 

He said he can hear the pump running and if the van was running there wouldn't be a need to take it to AZ.

 

ok , whats the pressure reading at shraeder valve? another question are the injectors being grounded by the ecm, i had the same problem i heard the frame pump running but not the tanks, after i dropped the tank found the rubber connector on pump had swelled and broken, pump was fried from sucking air i guess, after i replaced the pumps,..then the injectors were not being grounded ,wtf, the pickup pip sensor inside the distributor went out, replace igntion module and pip sensor, never thought the pip sensor had sumthing to do with the fuel delivery , im saying dont give up, if it was the engine or trans then i say junk it,but for a fuel problem and other minor stuff you dont junk it, just find storage and fix it slowly as budget permits, you and your son will learn a bit more mechanics and youll love the feeling when you fix it yourselves, vans are fun/great to drive much much safer if you get in an accident