I need your help! I have a 96 Ramvan 2500 with a 318 V8 that has me baffled. It was acting like it was out of gas at 1/2 full, so I replaced the fuel pump. It ran great on a trip to Colorado from Kansas, and for a few days in the mountains. THEN...it left us sitting and had to be towed back to where we were staying. Once off the tow truck, it started! Next morning, it started...until I drove it to the nearest town.... I turned it off to put in a few gallons of gas, then it wouldn't start! It was towed to a Dodge dealership in Denver, and when taken off of tow truck, started as they drove it into the mechanics bay. Later, when diagnosing the van, it had 0 pressure in the fuel system. They told me it needed a new fuel pump, $1,040 with labor. OUCH. I had to get back to Kansas, so I had no choice. They said my new fuel pump was bad. Picked it up, drove it back up to pick up the family, and headed for Kansas the next morning. It started fine, then we stopped for breakfast on our way home in Denver. When starting, it seemed to start hard, but finally turned over. I was afraid to turn the van off so I never turned it off until we reached home...500 miles. I filled the tank while running the engine. I turned the engine off when I got home, and tried to start the van, and it just cranked and would not start; just like initially in the mountains before the first tow.

Now, 2 fuel pumps later, and too much money spent, I am where I started.....my van won't start. Funny thing, it at least ran with the old fuel pump...just ran out of gas at 1/2 full. Now.....it won't start. It's like I'm not getting fuel....what the heck could be wrong? I love this van...but I can't drive it! Any help would be much appreciated!

 

There's either a problem with the wiring preventing power from getting to the pump, or your EVAP system...instead of pressurizing the fuel tank is creating a vacuum in it. The next time it doesn't start, first try loosening the gas cap and then see if it starts.

 

I had a similar problem on my 94 B250.
I turned out to be the ignition switch.