[cshawn]

First off, Hello, my name is Chris and I am new to this board. And also I am sorry if this has been posted somewhere else but I'm starting to get desperate. I can do the basic things, i.e. brakes, oil, etc.. but have been having some problems as of late and I purchased this Van which is a 3.8 6 cylinder about 3 years ago, had to have the transmission rebuilt at about 70,000 miles, I have no clue of the previous owner, I got it at about 62,000 miles, I only know it was used at a funeral home for delivering flowers, as the logo for the company is still on the tint. Here lately it I tried to change my standard stereo to a CD player, not having to much knowledge of this I went and bought the mount kit and the tool set, my wife said we didn't have the money for the plug kit so I thought i could wire it myself as I do have electrical experience. Now when I started I didn't realize I needed a removal tool for the radio so I just grabbed the volume knob with a pair of pliers and pulled and it came right out without breaking anything. I blindly clipped the cords, not knowing then that I should have unplugged my battery, it sparked, and I rewired up everything and nothing worked. Of course the next day my wife says we can buy the plug kit, a little to late if you ask me. I am fairly certain I wired it up correctly. It took me a while to get back out there to look at it but one night I was going to go to Speedway, turned the key, it started, then died instantly, turning the key would not do nothing, but my air, wipers and headlights were all working, and fuel pump as well. I had a friend help me the next day and get got messing around with the battery terminal wire going to the positive and it had a short in it, he could wiggle it in different directions and lights would flicker and different things would happen, I also found out that about 90 percent of my inside mini fuses had blown, probably from me clipping the radio wire, so after messing with the wire a bit and replacing all the fuses, it starts. So I thought I was OK for now, a few days later I took my kids to the pool and when we got back in the Van to leave it would not start again, so I wiggled the battery wire, turned the key and it started, this went on for days. A little annoying but happy it would start. Next thing, I start it up and all my dash lights and gauges quit working, no lights, no fuel gauge, no speedometer, but wipers, headlights, park lights, all exterior lights worked well, I never had a dome light. So the other night I was driving and the van starts to sputter, and eventually shuts off, i try to turn the key and it is trying to start but just can't make it, I think I'm out of gas, so I have a friend drive me to put some gas in a water jug and pour it in and it starts and I go back to the gas station and put in 10 more bucks in gas, then drive right down the road to my friends house which was not even a mile from the gas station, as soon as I pull in, it dies again, and I know 10 bucks had to be enough to get me there and I know it had to have gas cuz I just put in 10 bucks. None the less I make a call and have a friend bring me a gas jug and fill it up to see if it would make it start, I pour it in and nothing. I have this friend who is hearing impaired, 100% deaf and he reached slightly under the hood as I was sitting in the van and I could feel him messing with something connected to the gas pedal, he signaled for me to try and it fired up, it was enuff to get me to my next destination, I make a stop, I leave and I get about half way home and it dies again, and I have not a clue what to do, so I had to walk home and leave it. Today me and my deaf friend go back up there and he does the same thing and makes it turn back on, so I at least get it home and not beside the road. I tried asking what he was doing but it's kinda hard to understand him. Anyway I start it up tonite and it starts fine and I wanna take a short drive to feed it some gas before it sits all night. Of course I get down the road and it dies.
Battery is practically new, lots of corrosion and a little short in the wire as I said, I tried everything, then I remembered I had some fuel left in the jug from the night before, and the only thing I could think to do was put something on the gas pedal to open it up and pour some gas in the carburetor and try and start it, and it tries to fire, I have to do this several times going home, as it would last for a minute, then die. Finally I get back home and I have not touched it since, is this the fuel filter? Does anyone have any ideas on what could be wrong, any help would be great, sorry for such a long thread guys, just wanted to put out all the information. Also guys, I am in need of a spark plug replacement all ways around, can any one tell me how many plugs are on this vehicle and where they are located? Thanks.