Well, I swapped the battery for a new one, under warranty, no problem. The van drove for the next 2 days, then the check engine light came on and the van started running really rough. It idles fine, but when you put it in gear and/or drive it, the engine seems like it starts shaking and running poorly.

Oh yeah, and the battery is dead again, the new one! So, electrical problems + engine problems???? 285,000 miles.... maybe its time to let her be? I just spent $1000 putting a tranny in this thing though.... grrrrr

 

Do not give up on it yet.

DO a search for Key Dance, and post the DTC's the stored computer trouble codes.

Also clean the engine grounds firewall ground and frame to engine ground.

I hope your method of alternator testing in post 1 didn't fry a component or 2 in the computer.

 

What, no it is not done yet! Mine has 354K and still going strong.

I would also take the van to a parts store and have them plug in their OBD-II code reader and see what codes it may pull up that the key dance on ours will not. 96 and 97 year vans are OBD-II compliant and can flash the check engine lamp for codes but the codes it will flash is limited compared to all of the codes it may have stored. I can use the key dance for quick check but even on my van I pull out the code scanner and read them through it.

Have your alternator tested, it may have a problem that even though it may produce the voltage or close to it that it may not be putting out enough amps or even has a diode failure.

Does your message center (Left of the radio and to the right of the temp gage) have a lamp at the top that lights before the engine starts labeled Gen? If not check the bulb it may be bad and you have not noticed that the alternator is not working.