Exprees van just cranks over

not enough fuel pressure check filter could be bad pump

To clarify, the engine cranks and starts. If it cranks but won't start until 4 or 5 tries, I would check the fuel pressure before and after the first attempt. The check valve in the pump may be faulty and allowing the fuel to flow back to the tank when it is not running. The pump only gets power for the first 3 seconds during crank time until the engine starts.

If the pick-up filter is located at the front of the tank and the tank is almost empty the pump would starve for fuel.
murf427

There is a good chance your injectors are not firing. I would suggest cranking the engine without the air filter housing on the throttle body and see if the injectors are squirting fuel. If not, I believe they are fired off a signal from the distributor pickup.

If you have spark and fuel it should start. You must have min 57 PSI fuel pressure for this vehicle to start if it is the 4.3 Vortec engine. Also the cam sensor and the crank sensor control the spark. Does it have the check engine light on and if so what is the code or codes does it have? Need more info to help you out more.

Start with fuel system. Listen for fuel pump humm at fuel tank No humm check wiring to pump for power. Then check for spark at plugs and wires. Remove wire from coil and hold near engine and see arch when you crank. No arch. Replace ignition Modular inside distributor cap or cap or rotor

I had a similar problem with my '95 Villager.

After having it towed to "my" mechanic, here is what he did.

Undid the fuel line to the engine and had me crank the engine --- no fuel came out in spite of the fuel pump whining away.

He then reattached the fuel line and took a rubber mallet and thumped on the bottom of the fuel tank with the mallet as I cranked the engine.

The van started.

It was a fuel pump problem and he suggested not drive the van until the fuel pump was replaced because his "fix" was only temporary and I could be left stranded again.

I took his advice, the fuel pump was replaced and we've been driving the van ever since.

bikerbc

i had a similar problem and called the dealer during lunch hour. i talked to a mechanic, the distributor in these vehicles is plastic, and is prone to cracking.not just the cap but the body also, I have been taking the cap off and wiping the moisture out of the cap. or replacing the cap but the problem is I need a new distributor. just a cheep way to get rolling is cleaning the inside of the cap, especially when it is very damp or the outside temp changes alot during the day. good luck.

Have you checked the fuel filter? Have you changed it EVER?

Had the same problem with my '96 Silverado with 350 Vortec. The truck would only crank. It would start if fuel was poured down the throttle body. Could not hear the fuel pump hum. Fuse was good, but could not hear relay click. Relay was good, Did some electrical wiring trouble shooting. Turned out that one of the connectors that clasp onto one of the pins of the fuel pump relay wasn't making a good connection, too loose. I just stuck a peice of wire into the connector and pushed the relay back in. Relay clicked, Truck Started. It's been more than 4 yrs. since I made that McGuyver fix. Still firing.