I had an issue starting my 1991 Accord LX this morning. When I cranked the engine, it turned over smoothe and started up just fine. It idled for about thirty seconds and then died. It was about 30 degrees outside at the time. It took about three more cranks to get it run without dying and even then I had to steadily give it gas. After I drove it and let it warm up for about 5 min, I stopped at a gas station and stopped and started it with no problem. Could this be just because it was cold this morning, or could I have a more serious issue?

 

How are your spark plugs/plug wires?

 

A dirty idle air control valve and throttle body can starve engine for air w/ cold mixture and it may not run. If idle was low (<1000rpm), this may be problem. Idle should have been 1500-2000 on a cold start at those temps.

good luck

 

Plugs and wires are brand new. Think i may try and clean the IACV tonight. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

We all read things a bit different.

Before the engine died, did the tach jump up and down?

Also, on cold starts the the FITV would be high on my list for things to clean/adjust along with the IACV.

 

I didnt see if the tach jumped or not because i was out scraping ice off windshield. I did hear it sputter and try to idle up though. However, this morning it was the same temp, if not colder, and it cranked up without a prob, and I havent done a thing to it yet. weird. I did have it parked on an incline yesterday morning and the fuel was right at 1/4 a tank, could that have anything to do with it?

 

The fuel level in the tank should not matter...unless there is damage on/in the tank. IMO, I wouldn't go there yet.

Cleaning the IACV and the FITV cost just a bit of time and some carb cleaner....and need to be done every once in a while so that can never hurt anything.

From there it is going to be hard to figure out the issue is it is not there