Diagnosing a No Start Using Propane

Every mechanic's nightmare... a big heavy van that won't start! Ron Ananian The Car Doctor™ is checking out a Chevy van that died on the road and has been towed to the shop.
Diagnosing the problem boils down to engine basics. "An engine's an engine," Ron says in the video. "It needs spark, it needs fuel, it needs to be sound mechanically." The vehicle sounds mechanically sound. Basic testing, such as battery voltage and fault codes, showed no issues. The other possibility is a fuel issue.
Ron uses a neat trick to help narrow down the problem. Using propane as an alternate fuel, he feeds it directly into the air intake snorkel. Cranking the engine with the propane gets it started. He demonstrates that removing the propane immediately kills the engine, pointing to a fuel problem. Ron now knows that the problem could likely be a fuel pump. The customer gets a better understanding of the problem and can make an informed decision on how they want to proceed with repairs on this 20 year old vehicle.