Doesnt like to start, weird idle issues

pyroskater6912pyroskater6912 Wagonist
in Engine & Drivetrain
so i tried searching, but i wasnt sure if what i found is what i need to check for sure, so i simply thought i'd ask (sorry if its a wasted thread)

i'm mostly attributing some of this to the fact that its been >10 degrees out, sometimes below 0, but i've been having issues starting my car. sometimes it takes a good 5-10 tries to get it to turn over, other times (like in the video) it fires right up.

whenever it does fire up, my idle is crazy high, roughly 2.5k rpm. it eventually it starts to drop, but when it does, it bounces up and down. (see 1:03 in the video) once i shift out of park (as you can see the in the vid, close to the end) it drops down to something more reasonable.

now this has been going on for a little while now, but yesterday while sitting at a redlight, the car bogged down on me, it would only creep along, similar to when you're at too low RPM in a gear on a standard tranny. after only a few feet it stalled and forced me to have to shut it off and restart it (combined with the tough start i think i pissed a lot of people off)

anyone have any suggestions on what to look at? i honestly dont have the cash to buy parts that wont solve the issue, being a broke college student, but at the same time, i'm a delivery driver, so my car is my source of income

my car:
1989 RT
all stock
new alternator

video of whats going on:
http://s48.photobucket.com/albums/f208/pyroskater789/?action=view&current=2011-01-23_22-22-12_855.mp4

thanks for the help guys

Comments

  • FernpatchFernpatch Band Wagon
    start by checking your coolant. If you have a leak somewhere it would cause an air bubble to get into the cold idle bypass valve under the throttle body. That is not the proper technical term for the part but it can cause the idle to be high and than bounce up and down as the motor starts to warm up. Also check for vacuum leaks.
  • pyroskater6912pyroskater6912 Wagonist
    Fernpatch wrote:
    start by checking your coolant. If you have a leak somewhere it would cause an air bubble to get into the cold idle bypass valve under the throttle body. That is not the proper technical term for the part but it can cause the idle to be high and than bounce up and down as the motor starts to warm up. Also check for vacuum leaks.
    one of the first things i did to the car when i got a chance to work on it (late december, back when my brother still owned it) was flush the radiator and replace the coolant. after 2 months the coolant level is still the same. (i check regularly because when i flushed it there was almost nothing in the radiator).

    a sort of the band aid for the starting issue i've found is that if i start it with the pedal to the floor it fires right up every time
  • FernpatchFernpatch Band Wagon
    maybe the temp sensor or a leaking fuel injector? sounds like it is trying to flood out if it starts better with the throttle on the floor.
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