Answer
Aug 28, 2025 - 01:53 PM
So, new battery, fresh gas, and all fluids are okay, but the engine won't run? Here’s what I’d check first:
- Fuel pump – Turn the key to ON (don’t crank), and listen by the gas tank. You should hear the pump whirr for a couple seconds. No sound? Fuel pump might be dead or relay’s shot.
- Spark – Pull a plug wire or use a spark tester and check if you’re getting spark while cranking. If you’ve got fuel but no spark, could be the ignition module, crank sensor, or something like that.
- Fuel pressure – Even if the pump makes noise, doesn’t mean it’s building pressure. After sitting a long time, the pump can seize up or the filter can clog. If you’ve got a fuel pressure gauge, check it at the rail.
- Old gas gumming up injectors – If the van sat a long time, old fuel might’ve gummed up the injectors or lines. Even if you added fresh gas, the old stuff might still be clogging things up.
- Security system / Passlock – On some ’90s GM vans, if the Passlock anti-theft system trips, it’ll crank but not start. Look for a flashing security light on the dash.
For a quick test, I recommend spraying a little starting fluid into the intake (just a short blast), then crank it. If it fires and dies? You’ve got spark, but no fuel — fuel delivery issue. If it still does nothing? There could be no spark, so it's time to check the ignition stuff.
Of course, there's not much troubleshooting advice we can give, given the limited information. But resolving engine issues such as this is often covered in the service manual. Perhaps if you can let us know more details about your GMC Van (e.g. engine, model/variant, etc.), we'll be happy to assist you further.
