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1- start up procedure.  I assumed that this set up should be like any other 737, but I am having a hard time even starting the engines.  APU is on, bleeds are on and packs off, and hyd are on, but still the engines won't start.

How I start the engines (right OR wrong, this works for me):

Engine Start
Battery Switch - ON
Fuel Pump Switches - ON
APU Switch - Start (switch flicks back to RUN)
APU Generator Switches - ON (once the APU GEN OFF BUS light comes ON)
Yaw Damper Switch - ON
DC Meter Selector - TR1 or TR2 or TR3
AC Meter Selector - APU General
APU Bleed Air Switch - ON
Engine Bleed Air Switches - ON
Left Engine Start Switch - GRD
Left Mixture Control Switch - UP/START
Right Engine Start Switch - GRD
Right Mixture Control Switch - UP/START
Left and Right Engine Generator Switches - ON
AC Meter Selector - GEN 1 or GEN 2
APU Switch - OFF
APU Bleed Air Switch - OFF
Left and Right Air Conditioning Pack Switches - ON
Gasper Fan Switch - ON

Do that and you should be able to start the engines.
This guide is for if you just want to get straight into it and get the engines started and go flying!
If I am not going to start the engines straight away while at the Gate/Ramp, I will use External Power [EP] and Bleed Air [BA].


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2 - Some of the panels I don't understand that are above the throttle and there is no manual that explains the purpose of them.

You'll have to wait for Manual III - Normal Procedures to get a lot of that.


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3 - The nav dials sometimes turns and sometimes they don't.  I start the sim with the usual Cessna and shut everything off but the Avionics.

I don't quite understand what you mean.


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4 - For what ever the reason, APU will shut off and I can not get it to restart......very frustrating.

I haven't had this problem that I know of. I'll test it to see if I have it happen.


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I am assuming the the 3rd manual that Captain Sim hasn't come out yet will answer most questions.

Me too. So I hope it comes out soon.


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One more question, when setting up NAV or VOR, what is the standard distance between VOR's?

FSX doesn't mimic real world ranges with NDB's and VOR's. The VOR range is a maximum of 200nm. NDB range varies a bit and I'm not exactly sure on those ranges (I should find out). I only use he NDB's near the the destination airport as a guide to an approach, not for long distance navigation because I can't seem receive them when I think I should be able to.

Mark