Chrysler Repair: Random no starts: 3.3L V-6 96, fuel pump relay, independent shop

Question
I have a 96 Chrysler T&C van.(3.8L engine)  tHE van randomly starts.  It acts like it has no gas in it.  I have replaced the fuel pump relay.  Did not help.  I can hear the fuel pump click on when I begin to start the motor.  It will never start in the morning, but sometimes will start in the evening.  If it starts, I can drive it and it runs as usual, I can turn it off and restart over and over.  A few hours later I try again and it turns over but will not start up.  It has a brand new battery.  I am unsure where to start with this ....any info would be greatly appreciated.  Thank You

Answer
Hi Katrina,
I suspect it is a fuel problem, related to the mixture, but the best way to begin to diagnose this is to ask the engine controller for whether it has recognized a fault and stored the info as a 2-digit fault code number in its memory. I believe that still in a '96 you can use the ignition key and the check engine light to get the fault codes:
"on-off-on-off-on and leave on" doing that in 5 seconds or less elapsed time. The check engine light remains "on" but soon begins to flash, pause, flash, etc. Count the number of flashes before each pause. Then repeat the key action and recount the flashes to verify you have the counts accurately. Then group the counts in pairs in the order of appearance to form the 2-digit codes. The last sets of flashes are always 5 in each, forming the number 55, which is the code for "end of readout". You can get a decode at
www.allpar.com/fix/codes.html  or you can write back and let me know and I can tell you what to do with the info that the code tells you.
If you don't get the flashing routine, then go to an Autozone parts store where they often will do a free readout via a socket under the dash and a plug-in reader. If you don't have an Autozone nearby look for an independent shop that will do the readout for under $40.
Roland