This is a bit strange but my '94 Aerostar would not start I tryed everything and i finally found the problem!!! (Some advice maybe if this happens to you) Anyway I took my distributor cap off and found out that the rotor is driven by a black metal wheel with an indent in it for a tooth in the rotor. my problem was that the tooth was broken off the rotor i wouldn't have noticed this if i hadn't have tryed to turn the rotor by hand. It was totally not noticably broken! Most distibutor rotors are directly driven from the metal piece that they sit on, but this one isnt so always check that.
Also for anyone who cant figure out how to take the doghouse off to reach the distributor there are 4 clips and you have to take out the cupholder in the center.

 

tky for that but i did find out what that prob was with mine after I first got it to why it wouldn't start, its the damn trany gears rev is park park is rev tky again

 

Mojo Hobo
Just wondering about what you wrote are you sure rev is park or do you mean rev is neutrel.Sounds like there is an adjustment that is not correctly adjusted,My question do write back.

Mojo Hobo

 

I have thought about it and it seems strange that reverse is park and park is reverse. anyway I am curious to know whether your gearshift is on the steering column or on the floor. I ask this only because I am unsure of the year of your van otherwise i would know. You should try unhooking the shift linkage and moving it Manually (from underneath the van) with the parking break on of course. and when you do this count the detents (clicks). If you plan to drive the van as it is you can easily bypass the neutral safety switch which will allow you to start in any position. Although i believe that is illegal. Also if your gearshift is on the steering column I believe you should have a cupholder on the center of the floor between the driver/pasenger seat. Take this off (there is one phillips screw in it) and underneath it there will be a white plastic cover with 4 bolts in it take it off and you will have a clear view of the transmission and shift linkage, this should add some ease to your investigation. the hole in the floor is there in case you decide to put a manual tranny in. Mines a 1994 mind you so yours may be different depending on year and soforth. I did this with mine and found it much easier because i could see the linkage as i shifted back and forth from gear to gear, it minimizes the need for a helper.

 

hi again mine is a 93 and an auto on the floor

 

oh ok if it is on the floor then disregard what i previously said... this may be more difficult i have never worked on the likage with the shifter on the floor.. mine is a '94 with the shifter on the steering column hmmm well good luck with that..

 

Bomber1973:

Is the shift lever on your transmission pointing up or down. (On mine it's down)
That would make a differance into which gear it would go.

Somebody might of put in a transmission that works backward.