Engine will not start

I had this issue had to get a new fuel pump cost me $187.00 all set up nice now.

Hello all

So, today we went out to start our van, and it wouldn't start. It is a Chevy Express 1500 Cargo Van - 2001 model. We attached it to a battery, and the strangest thing happened! It started trying to turn over! There was NO key in the ignition though! Has anyone ever experienced this? Do they know what it is? So, again, the original battery in it was dead. We took a newer battery out of our truck, fully charged, because the truck could not reach the van parked like it was. We removed that battery, attached the ends of lead to van / new battery, and upon connecting the last lead to the new battery, the van started trying to turn over (it kept trying. It never actually turned over actually starting the van - it was struggling to do so.) - NO key in ignition! No fuses were blown or anything - and van will still not start when someone gets in and tries to turn an actual key in the ignition - It cannot even charge off the new battery b/c everytime it is fully connected to van, it tries to start. I do not want to even try attaching the van to another running vehicle for fear of what may happen to the running vehicle - if anything.

Any advice or experience is welcome
Thanks
Sara!

Ok. I am not sure if you understand exactly what is happening, so I'll try and rephrase everything - I think faster than I write sometimes, and it could be confusing. :)

Ok - so, first, there is no remote started on the van. It is a basic 2001 Chevy Express Cargo Van for work purposes. My other half owns his own business - Independent contractor and all.

The vans battery died this morning - It has been dying a lot lately, but the rear doors were left open for a few hours and it died. (Prob needs a new battery soon - but thats a diff issue!)

So, upon it dying, because it was parked in front of the other vehicle we would jump start it with, we removed the battery out of the other vehicle - it was fully charged and pretty much new. We took the leads and attached the battery to the van. Upon doing so, the van would start trying to turn over - every couple of seconds you'd hear the engine trying to turn over - slowly. There was NO key in the ignition though! My fiance then tried to get into the van, while it was continuously trying to turn over, and DID try a key in the ignition - which nothing happened. It just continued trying to turn over on its own. We disconnected the new battery from the van and tried the key in the ignition again - nothing.

We have not connected a runnin vehicle to the van b/c we don't want to risk anything happening to the car that runs. If anything at all would happen anyway.

So, we have no idea why it is trying to turn over, no key in ignition, the minute it is attached via the jumper cables to a brand new battery - with NO key in ignition - any ideas?

Thanks!

Also, do you still want me to start by unplugging starter relay? Do I leave it unplugged and do something or just unplug and plug back in again? How do I do this? My fiance will be home in ten min and he can do all these things without asking for help locating etc - but for now it is just me. Ill let u know as soon as he is in and I dont need the extra help anymore.

Also, Ignore my other question - it posted twice earlier - the titles are a little diff. So please, just stick to this one. Thanks!

Update: We went out and disconnected the relay. He plugged in the vans battery and for literally a second (like there was some residual energy) it tried to turn over. (Keep in mind he has had the van battery on charge with a charging machine). He tried to turn the key in the ignition and nothing happened. He then connected the new battery to the van and it DIDN'T begin the trying to turn over again and again w/out the key in the ignition. He went in the van and tried the key and it started on its own. He came out and plugged the starter relay back in and it stayed running. We turned the van off and turned the key again and it started again. Its almost as if he has a sticky starter relay? Or it needed to be reset and this did it?

Is it possible they overheat and it causes it to need to be reset? Could it be moisture? Is it possible this is the beginning of the relay going? Is it just a sticky relay? Any thoughts are great appreciated. You have been a great help so far! I am guessing this is going to be a continual problem here and there - what could cause this? Fix it? Etc.

Oh and thanks for the info on the battery and the gas it creates! We were trying to figure out why it was sparking when we would disconnect / connect the leads. Even the ground did it - now we know. :) Thank you!

Oh - just to make sure you understand, the entire time we were doing these things, the van wasn't on its own, it was connected to the new battery - ie: "He went in the van and tried the key and it started on its own. He came out and plugged the starter relay back in and it stayed running. We turned the van off and turned the key again and it started again." In the first answer, it was connected to the new battery via the leads, I just didn't want u to think it "started on its own" as in nothing was connected to the battery in the van. Once I said he connected the new battery, it was connected the whole time after.

Hello again
Well, this makes complete sense, doesn't it! I thought it quite odd that it did turn over - it didn't make sense to me, but went with it as it did turn over! :) Ok, so I relayed this to my fiance. I am not sure how this website works completely, but due to a severe winter storm we're being slammed with in NH, he had to go out and start plowing, and I am inside with the "little people" - kiddo - now too. We are going to start on this new in the early AM, and we want to know if we will still have you to work with? We'd really like to continue with the help from you to solve this issue - or at least get to a point where we know what to fix and why.

Is this something you can do? Do I need to reapply with a new question and hope you answer it? Do I just continue to write to you?

Also, when I first signed up for this, I did place a small donation as I thought it the right thing to do. After the amount of help you have given us, we wanted to be able to donate more to you. I am not sure if you get paid separately or if you make money off of these donations or what - but either way we want you to get something more - especially now that I am asking for your continued help, but no matter what we feel you deserve more than my initial donation. Is there anyway to do this? Obv in a way which will not get you into any trouble, but supports the site and yourself? Please let me know. I look forward to continuing to work with you - I'm guessing we will have it all figured out tomorrow. :) Just need the daylight - and the lack of 30 mph 20 below zero winds and snow squalls!
Have a great evening
Sara

Hello again

You know I have yet to ask you your name. It's prob. Not something you often get asked, or offer out, but it would be nicer to actually start off a note with your name! LOL.

I am sorry to hear about your house fire. I know this can be very difficult. I think it is amazing that you still get out there and offer so much of your time to help others. That's really nice to hear. You seem very educated in this field, and have a great personality - so it has been a pleasure working with you. I appreciate your understanding our issues with the snow. We had about a foot dumped on us, with the winds and below zero temp it sucks. No other word for it. :) Mike will get to the van later on this afternoon - after all snow plowing etc is out of the way. I am actually glad you have times when you're not able to reply right away, because I was basically trying to say something similar to you. Ill always get back to you, but there may be a few hours, if not a day. Where I just can't. I run my own business, (as does my other half), plus I have my kids (2 - a rambunctious 10 and 3 year old), appts, house stuff, car issues blah blah blah - I get it. I also don't want to be one of those people making you feel like you need to go ten miles into town, in bad weather esp, to answer these questions! I can def. Wait for you to get to it when you can, as long as you don't forget about me. :)

As far as the sarcasm goes, bring it on! I live for it. Nothing better than sarcasm, esp. With someone who also appreciates it.

I am not sure what you're allowed to offer for info while working on this website, but if you don't mind my asking, what is your website about? Could I possibly ask for the address to view it? Just curious is all. I have a website too, but it is currently "down for repairs." It needed some tweaking, and I found a better company to go through for it. I love meeting people in these neat ways, I have a knack for knowing what people are good, and what ones are just looking for a quick buck, or out for themselves only. You def. Seem like a great person with awesome knowledge of something so many people would love to have - or can't afford to pay to get the answers on - the fact that you offer it to others for a small fee, to none at all, is really amazing. This site is by far one of the best I have seen in a long time, in regards to helping others. Especially with this topic. I am def. Spreading the good word.

All that being said, I look forward to your reply, and I will be back to you as soon as we get back to the van. I would like to know what we are going to wind up needing to fix / replace in order to solve the issue - even if short term. I will prob be posting another question soon on another issue it is having, as well as some on my vehicles problems. I love researching the info to find solutions and fix things myself; this place def. Helps in an area where problems are far too detailed and specific to search the web for an answer. Hope to be able to have my other questions answered by you, or someone with the same attitude and caliber as yourself.

Have a great day
Talk soon
Sara

Hello all

So, today we went out to start our van, and it wouldn't start. It is a Chevy Express 1500 Cargo Van - 2001 model. We attached it to a battery, and the strangest thing happened! It started trying to turn over! There was NO key in the ignition though! Has anyone ever experienced this? Do they know what it is? So, again, the original battery in it was dead. We took a newer battery out of our truck, fully charged, because the truck could not reach the van parked like it was. We removed that battery, attached the ends of lead to van / new battery, and upon connecting the last lead to the new battery, the van started trying to turn over (it kept trying. It never actually turned over actually starting the van - it was struggling to do so.) - NO key in ignition! No fuses were blown or anything - and van will still not start when someone gets in and tries to turn an actual key in the ignition - It cannot even charge off the new battery b/c everytime it is fully connected to van, it tries to start. I do not want to even try attaching the van to another running vehicle for fear of what may happen to the running vehicle - if anything.

Any advice or experience is welcome
Thanks
Sara!

Yes, I accidentally asked this question twice, please see the first one you answered as I replied to it! Ignore this one. :)

Help !
My express 2500, 5.0, acted like it ran out of gas. Towed it home. Has 1/2 tank of fuel.
No pump running. No pressure at rail.
Ecm-b fuse has power on both sides.
Relay swapped with starter. Great crank.
Checked pcm plugs, very clean inside.
Big plug at gas tank. Power in small grey and purple wires, also full time power in large grey wire.
Will run with gas squirt in intake.
Will check the other clues from the forums.
Just tried unplugging opsu, also grounded it. No pump !
Security system?
Guys, please help me go the right direction.
Thanks, eric