My father in law has a 97 Mercury villager 4.0L that will not start. Fuel Pump kicks on it has spark but absolutely will not start at all, cranks fine. I disconnected the battery for 5 minutes thinking maybe that will reset something but it still will not start.

any suggestions.

Have you tryed using starting fluid to see if it will run?? Check fuel pressure. Have you checked for any codes?? Autozone or checkers will rent you a scanner for a deposit that is returned when you return scanner>

I would change the fuel filter first

Maybe your timing belt. To check take off the distributer cap and leave wires on. Get someone to start the van . If the rotor under the cap turns when motor turns , then your timing belt is fine. If not , well then you found the problem.

well it's running fine now. It started up the next day and then that night when he was going to work it stalled a few times then stalled and wouldn't restart, but again the next day it started fine and hasn't had any problems since then, that was tuesday night.

well it's running fine now. It started up the next day and then that night when he was going to work it stalled a few times then stalled and wouldn't restart, but again the next day it started fine and hasn't had any problems since then, that was tuesday night.

Great that is running again BUT I would get to Parts Store that will test for codes with a scanner for free, (Autozone or such) and post the codes. Change fuel filter and check fuel pressure. The vehicle will most likely stall again and leave him stranded. Lets try to solve the problem before it leaves him stranded.

Did you bang on the gas tank at all before it started?? Tell of anything that was done to possibly get it running.. The screen on the fuel pump may be getting plugged up and not allowing gas to be sucked up by the fuel pump.

If after doing the fuel stuff mentioned in previous posts and problem returns it may be caused from the distributor. Before replacing the distributor I would remove cap & rotor then remove the metal plate and spray cam sensor/timing plate with contact cleaner. The cam sensor has a led light that can get dirty and screw things up. If stalling continues then it's probably a dist.