[ImperialCrown]

Welcome to Allpar. It does sound like a misfiring cylinder.
It may eventually light the 'ck eng' light and set a fault code saying which cylinder has the problem. A scan tool plugged into the underdash diagnostic connector may show a 'pending' code and a road test with 'live data' being observed may show which cylinder is misfiring.
Common causes are spark plugs, wires, cap and rotor, but I'm not saying for sure that any of those are the problem on yours.

 

[peterjon1]

I had a cracked distributor rotor that caused rough running and jerking occasionally. Most of the time it would stay in place, but under the right conditions it would move just a little bit.
Another possibility - is it damp when this occurs? maybe condensation in the distributor cap or the plug wires need replacing.

 

[Logan7221]

Well I changed the plugs and the problem is still hanging around. But now I have a new symptom. Just as before if it doesn't act up when I initially try and start it it runs just fine but now when it does act up I sometimes hear a clicking sound coming from the fuel tank. While pressing the gas I can hear it reving up and down almost as if Im letting off the gas pedal. New problem or part of the same problem. So far no check engine light either. I had a couple of instances when it didnt want to start and just cranked. But when it does finally start after a few tries turning the key back and fourth from acc I hear a fairly odd hum comming from the back of the van. Not too sure where exactly but this hum happens with the key in acc and only last for about 2 seconds. It's so confusing when you can't get the problem to present itself in some
fairly reliable way. I have found no real way to recreate the issue other than turning the car on and off till the problem happens at startup.

One other thing is the rain makes no difference. It was raining tonight coming home from work and the car ran just fine. Also, I did manage to recreate it once by reving the engine really hard for a few seconds but not again after that.

Thanks for the help so far folks.

 

[peterjon1]

The hum is your fuel pump. it will run for about 2 seconds when the key is turned, and will quit if the engine does not start. I don't know about the clicking, but maybe the fuel pump is starting to fail.