I have a 95 windstar, cranks but won't start. Checked and changed plugs, all plugs are sparking. No OBD codes, smell gas from cranking. started fine in the morning but would not start at lunch. Almost acts like it is way out of timing?

Checked Primary and secondary coil resistance, Primary within range .74 ohms on all 3, Secondary 13.8k-ohms, range should be 6.5 to 11.5, could this be the cause? Now looking into fuses and fuel system. I hear fuel pump purge and smell gas, also notice a gas smell in the oil, do not know if that is because of all the cranking without it firing.

only code was a P1405 and I found a bad vacuum hose and replaced it. No other codes are showing, erased the code and it is clear. Do OBD codes only record if the engine is running? What else could it be?

Please help!

Since there are no other responses yet...

While I haven't had coil problems on my Windstar, if you're getting good spark out of them, I wouldn't worry about the secondary resistance not matching the spec yet.

Nothing else obvious sticks out based on your description, so let's get back to the basics: ignition, compression and fuel.

- You can smell the fuel, so let's ignore that one for now.
- We know you're getting spark - but is it happening at the correct time?
- Does the engine seem to crank normally? Have you done a compression check?

Is this the 3.0l or 3.8l engine?

One item to consider, only because I recently found this problem on a '96 Mustang 3.8, which shares many components with 3.8l Windstars in this era: The spark timing is supplied by the crankshaft position sensor, and the toothed ring on the harmonic balancer (spark timing does *not* come from the camshaft position sensor; it's a shared-coil, waste-spark system). In this situation, the keyway of the harmonic balancer began to wear, throwing off spark timing (engine ran horribly; eventually wouldn't start). It took quite a bit of research to discover this problem - but replacing the harmonic balancer fixed it. So... Even though the book will say the timing isn't adjustable (it isn't - because the crankshaft position sensor isn't set up to be moved), I'd do some timing checks.

That 1405 code is for the DPFE sensor - EGR valve position sensor. It indicates the upstream hose is plugged or off. I don't know exactly where the EGR valve is on the 3.0L. I believe it is just below the throttle body. From the diagrams it looks as though the DPFE sensor is located quite near the throttle body as well. It is a rectangular sensor with two hoses coming off of it. The hoses attach to the exhaust line going to the EGR and measure differential pressure to determin EGR valve position. These sensors are a common problem at least on the 3.8L, yet they don't typically cause a no start. I would be suspect of the EGR Valve. I do think you would have a no start condition if it had stuck open. You can attach a hose at the vacuum line of the EGR and apply suction to see if the EGR is operating - opening and closing.
For what it is worth, I recently dealt with an explorer with the 1405 code, and the upstream hose was off as suggested by the code.

Let us know what you find.