stalls out when wet/cold until warm

[celticpiping]

2003 xlt w/V6 4sp manal

No error codes to read, but here's what happens:
If it's been raining all night, I start it up, if I press the gas, it will stall
until the engine has warmed a little.
If I try & take off, it'll stall every time until warmed.
Same seems to happen when it's cold, but wet seems worse.

Also, it starts hard during these times of stalling.

With no errors to read, if we were just shotgunning parts, should I think about something like a distributor for starters? (no pun, really)

Thanks lads,
Rich

 

[RonD]

Welcome to TRS

You posted in 4cylinder engine forum, but say you have a V6???

In any case your first step will be to replace ECT(engine coolant temp) sensor
Not expensive, if you post what engine you have, 3.0l V6 or 4.0l V6 then we can tell you where it is located.

When you start a cold engine, without touching gas pedal, it should REV up to 1,500 RPMs and then go down to about 1,100rpms.
That tells you the computer is working, the IAC Valve is working, and the ECT sensor is working.
As engine warms up fully idle should go down to 700rpms or so

If ECT sensor is telling the computer the engine is warmed up already then engine will run poorly and stall when it is cold, but run OK once it is warmed up
And this would not set a code because computer only knows engine temp from the one sensor nothing to compare it to, computer just "thinks" you are restarting engine after running into the store

 

[celticpiping]

thanks RonD,
I indeed posted to the wrong forum..
it IS a V6....



R