Dead Ford Van Question (wont turn over but electric is good?)

Check battery for condition including a load test. Autoparts do for free. Check the item s in pic they are fusible links and can sometimes be only hanging on by a couple of strands. They should have same voltage on both sides you might try twirling them around then rechecking. Finally have an assistant try to start the van an dgo out and hit body of starter, if it starts your starter is bad.

Because the battery may not hold the voltage and or not have the power to turn the starter over that is why you do a load test on the battery.

It's not necessarily holding charge but not having the power to turn the engine over that is why you do a load test. Also the diagram I sent to you was pointing to the fusible links which can burn or hang on by just a couple of strands and not put the power through that is required for starting. Also I also asked you to have an assistant help and when the vehicle does this to hit body of the starter while the assistant tries to start and if the engine turns over the starter is bad because the armature has flat spots on it and will do one of two things besides not starting -draw to many amps and not turn over or by jarring it will knock the armature so it can turn over. I'll you in for a refund.

Another issue with these Fords is the shifter shaft on top of the column will wear out the bushings or come loose on the back of the assembly, this will keep it from going all the way into park. If its not all the way in park the trans position/range sensor wont let signal through to crank the engine

See the pics below

If it has always started and all of a sudden wont crank, chances are good that the starter is shot. Also try holding the key in the crank position, and slowly move the shifter through the gears. The neutral safety switch could be bad, or out of adjustment.