2001 Caravan Sport - won't start

I'm trying to get a 2001 Caravan Sport running. It's got the 3.3 liter V6, and has 295,000 miles on it (although the transmission is fairly new).

It was my sister-in-laws van, and she got another vehicle and said we could have the old van. My brother-in-law was driving it and it stopped running - this was back in November 2009. Since then it's been parked outside at my in-laws place. (I'm in Minnesota, by the way.)

When I turn the key I can hear the whir of the fuel pump pressurizing, and the engine turns over, but it won't start. I think there's about 1/4 tank of gas in it. An auto mechanic friend of mine suggested checking for fuel pressure by depressing the schrader valve - at least to see if fuel is spraying out or just trickling out - but I couldn't seem to find it on the engine. (It's not in the same place as on the 3.3 in my 2000 Caravan.)(My mechanic friend also said the Dodge 3.3 liter engines just seem to run and run, so he wasn't so surprised that my sister-in-law had been driving it even with the high mileage...)

I'm hoping someone can suggest some further steps I can take to diagnose the problem. I'm reluctant to have it towed to a mechanic if it's possibly something I can fix myself - I don't want to put a lot of money into the vehicle.

Thanks!

if your thinking fuel system, spray some carb clean in the intake...i would also check for any codes..

hundahunta - thanks for the suggestion.

I did check for codes - the only code showing up was P0403, Exhaust Gas Recirculation Circuit Malfunction. My mechanic friend didn't think that would prevent it from starting.

That sure is a bunch of miles on the van. I think it might be the highest I have ever seen on a minivan and I have seen a few in the low 200Ks. My 95 Voyager only has 155,000 miles on it.

Duplicate post.

I notice you are concentrating on the fuel. Have you checked for spark?

Check compression, check the plugs ,,,,check for a spark, if no spark change the crank position sensor and mabye the cam sensor too for good measure...Thats what I would do,,,not nessisarily in that order, Sounds like your fuel pump is working. The thing with fuel injection is, it wont deliver fuel until it senses the engine is turning.

Does it have power sliding doors?

nexy to battery are some connectors that were loose press in on them then try to star the van my van after fixing that lose conection all problems vanish even the no start problem. i also to was able to hear fuel pump working but no start at all