Cold Start Issues

[Nocturnall]

I did a search and didn't see anything pertaining to my current dilema. My girlfriend has a 97 XLT SOHC 192k roughly miles. It runs fine, good gas milage (20ish miles to the gallon mixed city/highway) but in cold weather it won't stay running when you first start it. Crank the key, it fires right up, dies. Try again, dies, try again, dies, try again and hold the pedal down to give the engine fuel and it runs fine, let off the pedal dies. It's almost like it lost it's idle strategy or something but the computer hasn't lost power or anything because....the vehicle still has ample power to crank and start the engine. I tried cleaning the MAF and that didn't do crap, my next step would be cleaning the IAC but I dunno if a dirty IAC would be causing this. If you hold the pedal down for 3 mins just enough to run it at 2k it'll run on it's own, and idles fine at all other times once you get it running.....any ideas?

 

[mwking]

Definately sounds like a IAC issue. I have had the same thing happen intermittantly and cleaning the IAC seemed to help.

 

[97greenmonster]

Im having the same problem with my 97 SOHC, i just posted a thread about 5 min ago, and i stumbled on this. Im thinking IAC as well!

 

[Turdle]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1561277#post1561277

 

[gt_2001]

Exact same issue with my 00 EX! I'll try some of the suggestions and post my results. I should also mention that I did the 00M12 intake gastket fix last year. So I don't think that would be the problem!

 

[Nocturnall]

I cleaned the IAC and that helped greatly and only cost $2.50, one can of carb cleaner.

 

[Postman]

OK!!! Mine does that same thing!!! I'll have to try that. mmm...How do you clean it?

 

[Nocturnall]

I took it off the intake, sprayed carb cleaner in the intake then took a medium stiffness bristle brush that was slightly bigger then the hole and cleaned it out with that. Then sprayed into the IAC and did the same with the brush, then rinsed both out with the carb cleaner again, then repeated scrubbing both pieces with the brush, then finally rinsed both again, allowed it to sit for 2 hrs or so then started up and it fired right up and idled like she was new.

 

[ExploringNC]

I had the same issue with mine along with the rattle. Saturday I installed the 00M12 kit, everything went smoothly and had it back on the road in 4hrs. It immediatly stopped the rattle at startup and this mourning it was 17 deg out, it started up on first crank and purred like a kitten stone cold. So if the 00M12 kit has never been installed that would be the first thing to do or if you don't have the tools or a garage have a shop do.

 

[Murd]

00M12 Installation???

I had the same issue with mine along with the rattle. Saturday I installed the 00M12 kit, everything went smoothly and had it back on the road in 4hrs. It immediatly stopped the rattle at startup and this mourning it was 17 deg out, it started up on first crank and purred like a kitten stone cold. So if the 00M12 kit has never been installed that would be the first thing to do or if you don't have the tools or a garage have a shop do.

Did you have to remove the Engine Temp. sensor when you did the 00M12 install?
If so what is the reason for having to remove it? Thanks