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So when I startcar from cold it doesn't want to stay started and I have to give it some gas to stay running. I also here a weird noise its hard to describe but basically the best way to describe it "pank".. Lol I know that sounds ridiculous, it only does it once too. To me it kinda sounds like a back fire or maybe a lifter unsticking. I've also had some dash lights flash on while I drive. The lights are battery, tail light, headlamp. Sometimes they stay on for 5 seconds and sometimes they just sit there flashing at me randomly. This is buggin the crap outta me. Any help is appreciated.

The dash lights may be an indicator of an alternator issue.

The cold starting issue may or may not be related, and may be a coolant temp sensor. Does it start ok when cold?

I just replaced the coolant sensor a couple months ago and I had my alternator tested from autozone and they said it was fine. I'm gonna have my dad test it with a voltimeter tho. My car does it setters it's cold or hot outside. But my car just recently started making that noise when I start it up for the first time in the morning.

I forgot to add that the smell of the exaust smells like it running rich

I need to clean my idle air control valve I'm pretty sure but I don't want to pull it off cuz it seems like it needs angasket from what I hear, I've seafoamed it and it doesn't seem like that has helped but that's probably why my car won't start when the engine is cold. Does it need a gasket? And what is the proccess for cleaning it. Is this maybe sending bad info to my ecu and making it to where I run rich on first start up when it's not warmed up? I also am having CEL for purge fuel canister selenoid, could this affect the start up by giving my computer bad info too?. Is the resistor trick for replacing the selenoid a bad idea, or should I try to find a selenoid?

HI,
Post is getting old, but wanted to comment (boring Sunday)....Plus I've got the same damn CEL on my '90.
- Check THIS post about the Purge Valve Solenoid - quick answer is Yes the Resistor trick is OK, and No it won't help/hurt your other issues. This valve only does one thing (from what I've read) - pulls fuel vapors from the Charcoal Canister - not when cold or idle or WOT - only when cruising.

- Search on here for cleaning the IAC aka ISC. Basically, it's a matter of lightly spraying Brake Cleaner or similar(something that evaporates w/out leaving a residue) into the hose that runs to the intake. If you do pull it off, you'll need a gasket, most likely.

- The car is supposed to run Rich when cold...that's part of the warm-up.


Td

wtdash wrote:The car is supposed to run Rich when cold...that's part of the warm-up.

Word.

My LC-1 shows that the first ~1 min after a cold start AFRs are 10-12 range.