My econoline is the van from hell. After having thrown a rod and putting a new engine (4.9 straight 6) in it, it has had non stop electrical issues keeping it from starting. After not having a spark from the coil, we found a massive short near the distributor. After having fixed it the van started and has been running the past few days... until yesterday. We checked her fluids, started her up, let her warm up, listened to her, moved her out front and shut her off. Then after starting her up again that afternoon for a test drive, she shut herself back off and now is once again getting no spark from the coil. I heard another short when she shut off near the distributor, but not the old one, I rechecked it and it is still working properly. All the fuses are still good. Here is the weird thing, since we've been fusing with the electrical issues we keep noticing our battery is way low after cranking her over a few times. Sure enough after she died our charger was reading that she was 60% low.

I want to check the coil, wires running to the coil, and the alternator. Does anyone have any other ideas? Maybe you've had similar issues. Give me your precious information.

 

The van started this morning after charging the battery back to full. then after 10 minutes she died again. The battery is once again, very low. This points me to the charging system, but what could drain a battery that fast?
I should also mention that I did find another short and fixed it, but it was not in the ignition system and was rather nonessential. This time when the van died I did not hear a short.

 

The alternator could have a short in it, or the bearings could be shot. When that happens, the spinny metal bits could make contact with the stationary metal bits in the casing, causing a dead short.

What kind of alternator? Still a 2G (spade lugs for carrying change current), or did vans get upgraded to the 3G at this point? My 94 F150 still has a 2G alternator.

Also check all the ground wires, and maybe add more. They were barely adequate when new.