Alright, I've got a problem to solve before the Missus decides to be rid of a husband. 
I have a 1989 Aerostar I purchases used. Until today it was running great. Now it won't start. Turn the switch and it goes "Ka-Thawnk" on the driver's side of the van.
The good lady fired it up today and she commented for the first minute or so of it running that it sounded like it was going "GrrrrrrOOwwwwww" or struggling, but after that it was fine. All was well until she came in from work. I needed to borrow the van.
"Whhorrrow Whrrorrrowww Whrrrrrrorrrrrr". It sounded like the engine was turning and trying to kick, but it wouldn't fully kick in. I tried it again, then again, same noise until finally "Whir-whir-whir" and it started.
This left me dubious, so I cut it off and tried cranking it again. Fired right up, no problems, and ran fine. I drove the van off on an errand, turned it off at a store, cranked it back up and it ran just fine.
Problem was when I returned home, cut it off for about ten minutes, then went out again to try to crank it up....
"Ka-Thawnk" One clicking sound. Sometimes it barely clicks, sometimes it doesn't click it all. When it clicks most of the time it's a hard click. Already tried jumpering the van off from my car. No go. I've tried letting it sit, doesn't work. It always clicks on the left hand side near the battery.
She's freaking out because the computer lights up the oil gauge icon when it tries to start, but I verified twice it is completely full of oil and has never had a history of leaking while we have owned it. I keep telling her that it's also showing the door icon and is likely just a glitch due to us attempting to crank it. I'm mentioning it for completeness sake and again, so she won't decide to be rid of a husband.
What could it likely be? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I have a 1989 Aerostar I purchases used. Until today it was running great. Now it won't start. Turn the switch and it goes "Ka-Thawnk" on the driver's side of the van.
The good lady fired it up today and she commented for the first minute or so of it running that it sounded like it was going "GrrrrrrOOwwwwww" or struggling, but after that it was fine. All was well until she came in from work. I needed to borrow the van.
"Whhorrrow Whrrorrrowww Whrrrrrrorrrrrr". It sounded like the engine was turning and trying to kick, but it wouldn't fully kick in. I tried it again, then again, same noise until finally "Whir-whir-whir" and it started.
This left me dubious, so I cut it off and tried cranking it again. Fired right up, no problems, and ran fine. I drove the van off on an errand, turned it off at a store, cranked it back up and it ran just fine.
Problem was when I returned home, cut it off for about ten minutes, then went out again to try to crank it up....
"Ka-Thawnk" One clicking sound. Sometimes it barely clicks, sometimes it doesn't click it all. When it clicks most of the time it's a hard click. Already tried jumpering the van off from my car. No go. I've tried letting it sit, doesn't work. It always clicks on the left hand side near the battery.
She's freaking out because the computer lights up the oil gauge icon when it tries to start, but I verified twice it is completely full of oil and has never had a history of leaking while we have owned it. I keep telling her that it's also showing the door icon and is likely just a glitch due to us attempting to crank it. I'm mentioning it for completeness sake and again, so she won't decide to be rid of a husband.
What could it likely be? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
