You get in your bus, turn the key and nothing, no slow turning over of the engine, no click, just a dim ignition light that gets dimmer when you turn the key. Most likely a completely flat battery with not even enough power in it to make the solenoid on the starter operate. Could also be the battery feed wire has come off the starter, though with this the dash light wouldn't dim. Turning the key, the engine doesn't turn but theres a click from the back of the van. Starter motor solenoid sticking. Putting the van in gear (not applicable to automatic) and rocking it back and forth may work if the starter has jammed in mesh with the flywheel. If that doesn't work, crawling under the van and whacking the solenoid (avoiding the area where the wires attach) with the handle of a hammer will often free it. Could be dirty wiring connections on solenoid. Clean them and reassemble. Engine turns over but won't fire at all - not even a cough. Possibly electrical fault. Check leads to coil, the one from coil to distributor. Check points in distributor. Are they opening? Check the wire from points to distributor. Is it still intact and not worn though? Engine turns over but only coughs occasionally. Could be electrical. Check points above / . Make sure all plug leads are attached and in the right order if they've been off. Is the wire to the fuel cut-off solenoid (on stock solex carb) attached? Take out a spark plug. Is it dry? If it is then no fuel is getting through. Take off top of carb and look inside. It should be 1/2 full of fuel. If it isn't it could be a blocked fuel line, blocked filter, duff fuel pump or a sticking needle valve in the top of the carbs body. Engine turned over, sounds like it wants to fire but doesn't catch. Engine could be flooded due to pumping accelerator pedal and have soaked the plugs. Check that the wire to the automatic choke is still connected. Remove and clean the spark plugs, refit and try again. or Go and have a cuppa (to give the excess fuel a chance to evaporate) and try again in a few minutes, but this time only give it a little throttle. Try starting the van with your foot flat on the accelerator. The weakened mixture will offset the rich condition and the engine may fire. A blocked idle jet (due to muck in the fuel) will only allow the engine to run when the revs are above 1500-2000rpm so no use for starting. Ask me how i know. : Remove idle jet and blow out with compressed air.
