You stated that it will crank with the key, that rules out the neutral safety switch and there's no further reason to jump out your starter's solenoid.. Your latest descriptions are getting very vague and you are getting mixed up between cranking and starting.Cranking is the actual rotation of the starter, no starting means the engine is cranking but will not start.

 

I'm am not confused on the terms . I stated in the title no cranking because that was the original issue. it did not crank. the engine did not turn over nor did the starter whine like it was cranking without being engaged. I said no cranking because there was no rotation of the starter. I got the van less then a week ago. drove it 5 hours home started several time on the way. the head unit said check wiring and would not work. I parked it for three days , thought the head unit killed the battery possibly. so I got a new battery so I know what I got. fix the head unit wiring so it works turns on and off with key. I turn the key nothing, no crank. I leave the key in run. jump the solenoid it started. I drive to get a solenoid leave it running at AutoZone get one go home change that . I go to turn the key nothing, no cranking . I try to jump the solenoid to start it like the last time. it turned over the engine but would not start. at this time from the key it is a no crank still. I wiggle leaver on the neutral safety switch unplug the connector plug it back. I turn the key in park got nothing no crank . I put it in neutral it slowly cranked one time. I take the column apart to see if anything is broken. nothing broken but no grease anywhere but on the brass wheel in the key housing. I greased everything put it together. I turn the key , now turning over with the key but it's not starting. it's no longer a no cranking situation . the problem evolved from the first post to now a no starting issue. I'm not a master mechanic . but I did go to nashville auto diesel college and worked at a small engine shop for 2 years. so I can read a service manual and take stuff apart and put together without tearing it up. I have 2 7.3 vans also a 1996 and a 2003. I have done it all on those and never had trouble diagnosing them. ...... also on the e150 I tired to get the codes to flash with a jumper wire and it refused to.

 

also i was not jumping the solenoid for the fun of it. I jumped it the first time to test it. because I got nothing from the key. it started. the only reason I jumped the solenoid the second time is because I just put a new solenoid went to turn the key and still got nothing , so I jump the new solenoid to see if it would start like the last time. it cranked but did not start. after this I know the solenoid is not the issue. so I move on to the column. after greasing the column it turns over with the key. so I don't jump the solenoid again. I'm only trying to start it after changing something

 

OK, so now we know to skip the small stuff because you have the necessary background. That makes it a lot easier.

As you know,,,, there is nothing wrong with the starter and the relay works, all we need to verify is power coming from the ign sw to the relay, ,,,agree?

This is what I would try,
I'm a little hesitant with a voltmeter at the starter relay because if only one strand of the wire is good you will read 12 volts , agree?
So ,, I prefer to use something that needs a little more power, a simple test light , gives an immediate visual answer, clip the test light to the relay terminal that activates that relay, and stick the point of the light where I can see it from inside the vehicle with the probe end to any good ground. Now when I turn the key to start I know right away if power is getting from the ign sw to that relay. Based on that result you are on your way home. What do you think?

 

I took a spark plug out held it to the block and turned it over. no spark . I moved the ignition switch forward on the adjustment screws and tighten it down. no diffrence . I can got get a test light now

 

Not sure I understand your last post.
Did you hook up the test light as suggested and did you show power coming to the relay when the key is turned to the start position? Yes/ no?

 

Sorry this last guy went haywire. I’m having this same problem and was really glad to find this detailed thread. I’m bumping it now in case I have any more questions but just wanted to say thanks in advance

 

Today may be your lucky day,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,maybe !

Suppose you start from the beginning and enlighten us as to just what you have done and what you are getting or not getting, can we do that?
Don't leave out anything. Sometimes a little morsel of info can make the difference.
There is no such thing as too much info, so let's have it, thanks.

If you have already corrected the problem, please send us home, lol.

 

So I ended up trying to crank it while cycling through the different gears and that worked! Than I turned it off and it cranked normally again! Happy day indeed.

Now my question is, what do you think caused the problem and what should I worry about fixing? It’s an old van that I just got and needs a lot of upgrades.

 

If everything is working right now , it will be difficult to find something wrong when there is nothing wrong.

I would suggest, if you feel the need to, copy the suggested procedure in the earlier post and save it. As you know if you are ready for it to act up , it won't, that is the way it goes lol.