Car won't catch idle

[Neptune15]

This happened once a few months ago, but now it's become a morning routine.

It's averaging around 0-5 degrees Celsius where I am at the moment.

I start the car, it revs up to 1.5-2k but immediately stalls. I try again, and stay on the gas this time. I hold the gas pedal down for about 5 min until the car is warmed up. I let off the gas, the car stalls (again). With the engine warm, I turn the key to the on position to build up fuel pressure (3-4 times) and then I start it, and it idles fine.

The fuel filter is less than a year old (but it is probably some cheap filter I mistakenly bought from Canadian tire, I know now to stick with Motorcraft parts whenever possible). The IACV was cleaned last summer.

Could it be the fuel type? My car is tuned by FSWERKS for 91 octane, and has an FSWERKS CAI. I run 94 octane because sometimes I ping on anything less.

Any help is appreciated, as always.

[Sponsor]

[sleepyboy]

If your pinging on anything less than 94 then you need to contact FSwerks or flash back to stock and see if you still do it. You shouldn't be pinging at all. I'd probably would try cleaning the IAC valve again it just may be time for a new one.

[Neptune15]

It's not the tune, I pinged before too. It might be my OCD, because it's very slight and only at a certain RPM/throttle position. I doubt it's an issue.

[sleepyboy]

If your sure it's not the tune then why say anything about that? I'm leaning towards the IAC valve at this point.

[amc49]

Pretty funny. Someone who tries to hop the car up yet has not a clue of basic engine care or would already probably have it fixed.

One word..........tuneup. Until you have established that firm as a rock you really shouldn't ask for the 50 answers that should have already been weeded out............

[Neptune15]

I apologize for not being a mechanic expert, and wanting more power from my car. I should have known better.

I just know, from experience, that dropping money (even just for a tune-up) is not the way to tackle an issue. I was hoping for someone to go "oh, I had that exact problem. The problem is x," instead of "just keep up to date on maintenance because you have obviously slacked off in that department."

[cbdallas]

Sounds like IAC to me, but if your car has never had a tune-up, put that in your budget plan. They won't run forever on the factory ignition & fuel parts.

[Neptune15]

And for the record, the car has driven 65,000 kilometres.

[amc49]

No insult intended of course..............

Look to ignition and idle airflow, meaning IAC, PCV, and TB aircrack. Staying started when super cold requires hot clean ignition and airflow. I've stopped supercold start and die issues on others by cleaning the aircrack at the TB as well as new pcv valve.

There should be no need to 3-4 times key on to prime up pump, one time only or something wrong there..........................maybe leaky injector or bad pump if you can't hear it spin up.

[lauradogin]

yeah.Someone who tries to hop the car up yet has not a clue of basic engine care or would already probably have it fixed.