I have a 1988 Ford Econoline van I bought a month ago. It ran fine for a week then it started not starting especially first thing in the morning. I took it to a bunch of places and they all said it wasn't a short and the battery, alternator, selinoid and everything tested fine. I finally got Wal Mart to give me a new battery. It ran fine again for a little over a week, Then some of my lights, dash board gauges and windows started not working sometimes. Today I had to get it jumped to start again. When it does this all I get is the clicking sound when I turn the key on. It starts right up when I use the jumper cables or the battery charger. I can't afford to pay a mechanic to spend hours looking for a short. With what all is working sometimes and sometimes not is there certain wires that I should have checked that are most likely it? First my rear lights that come on with the headlights didn't work. Then the turn signals, then the dash board gauges and then the windows. They work sometimes sometimes they don't.
Thanks

Has the van been in salty conditions? Road salt etc? Sounds like the fuse block under the hood on the drivers side. Usually the wires rot off on the back and need to be rewired with new terminals. If you are not good with wiring it may be something you want to have done for you.

Check, or replace, the ignition switch for wear, pitting, or melting.

Thank you both. I am going to write it all down and get each thing checked. I changed the selinoid today and it is starting better... for now.

Thanks

This actually COULD be a bad battery cable or battery cable connection.

Sometimes the negative terminal gets hidden. Check carefully both ends of the cables.