99 Astro Van check engine light but no code

[strunch]

My 99 astro van won’t start after sitting a few days. It happened about a month ago too. Both times I didn't have very much gas in the tank and the weather was around freezing and raining. Last month I eventually got it started by jumping and cranking if for about three hours. It smelled flooded.
It's a 4.3L fuel injection engine. This time after trying to jump it, it just won't start..kinda feels like it wants too. It diesels a little after each attempt.

When the key is in the on position the service engine soon light is on and the check gauges light is on. I did a scan (with my battery almost dead) and it said the scan was successful but no trouble code found and said the MIL indicator was off?

Could it be my battery just needs to be charged or replaced?
Why is the check engine light on but no error code when scanned?
Should I try a scan with a fully charged battery?

Thanks for any help.

Smokey

[maxwedge]

Get the battery up to par and check fuel pressure, if it is TBI 10-13 ,if it is vortech, CFPI 60-65.

[strunch]

thanks for the tip..i will do that. I just replaced the pump six months ago.
wouldn't it show an error code for low fuel pressure?..
maybe I'll try replacing the fuel filter.

[sreve]

low fuel pressure will not set a low fuel press. code. generic code readers do not always report manufactors codes. a check eng light w\o the eng running sounds like a good sign . do you have good spark? will it run on ether? what is the fuel pressure? b.t.w. running it low on fuel is real hard on fuel pumps

[strunch]

i think your right about running it low on fuel being bad for the pump...perhaps the fuel filter gets more clogged that way too. I think last time i got it started my friend sprayed some ether in the air filter and it helped to get it started.

"a check eng light w\o the eng running sounds like a good sign"

I guess I'm being dumb...are all the warning lights supposed to be on when the key is in the on position?

also the last few weeks the service engine light would come on once in a while...could low fuel pressure be a possible reason?

Thanks.

Smokey

[strunch]

bought a new battery...used hairdryer on ignition coil,sprayed ether in air intake and only makes a loud popping sound...taking a beer break.

[xtreme barton]

beer break might not be a good thing ...

second do you have any heat ? and can you go get some gas with a gas can/s to fill it up more ?

[strunch]

put more gas in and replaced fuel filter...still doesn't start.

[xtreme barton]

fuel pressure check and a complete spark check test ..

[strunch]

there is a spark from the coil to the distributor. I can't figure out how to access the spark plugs. I'll go buy a pressure guage to test the fuel pressure.

[xtreme barton]

do you know what pressure you should be at ?

also yor spark plugs shouldnt be hard to get at... i highly doubt they are bad but you need to make sure all wires are shooting sparks..

[strunch]

i took the ignition coil out and did the ohm checks listed in repair manual. The coil passed all tests. So I hooked it back up and took one of my front wheels off to access the spark plugs. I took out one plug and hooked it back up to the wire and then cranked the engine....the spark plug didn't spark! I double checked that the wire from the coil to the distributor is sparking...it is.
Thats where im at now. Haven't checked fuel pressure yet.

Just realized that to test the plug like that i should ground it. I turned it over again with the spark plug grounded and it does spark.

[corning_d3]

The check engine light will illuminate when the key is turned to the on position. This way it lets you know its working. Unplug the coil and remove the dist. cap. Have someone crank the engine and watch the rotor under the cap and make sure its turning. If it isn't the timing chain, timing gears, cam or dist. shaft may have broke. If it turns, then the culprit is usually a bad cap or rotor.

[strunch]

went out to take the cap off and check the rotor but i decided to try to turn it over first for the heck of it. It started?! I turned it off and put the one plug I had out back in. I put back the air intake assembly and reconnected the air flow electric connections. I drove it to a gas station and filled up the tank. I took it to a auto parts store and did a scan. It came back PO 102 mass or volume air flow -cirucit low input. I figure the code is there because when i started the engine the electric plugs going to the air intake were not plugged in? I assume to clear or test the code i remove negative battery cable and reattach?

Don't know why it happened in the first place..seems like the engine was flooded and it just took time to dry out...or perhaps since the fuel level was so low perhaps water got in the gas somehow from condensation? Im glad I don't have to buy yet another fuel pump..im not letting it get below a quarter tank from now on.

How do you tune up these new fangled machines anyway? I can't adjust the timing on a 99 correct? What can I do if I want to do a complete tune up?

Thanks for everyones help.

[jackastro]

If it wont start again don't be afraid to hold the pedal to the floor. Let it go as soon as it fires. You should add some isopropal (drygas) to each fill up.