I have a 1993 montero 4x4 that is hard to start when cold. I know its fuel related since to start it I often give it a squirt of gas in the intake. I typically have to floor the gas pedal for 4 or 5 trys then it will sometimes crank roughly before clearing out as it warms. This has started happening lately even when its warm. In recently did change the fuel filter.

I could keep doing it like this but its a tad embarassing at the day care in the morning when I raise the hood with my squirt bottle of gas! Thanks in advance.

 

iac motor or the fuel inside the fuel tank

 

I do have a check engine light on. I've been doing the gas squirt routine since last hunting season and the engine runs fine once it's started so I can't imagine it being the fuel itself. I will try and remove and clean the idle valce and see. I wouldn't have thought of this. There are so many things that can go wrong here. Thanks for the reply.

 

Well I removed the IAC and cleaned it. It was very dirty. I wiped out the interior and put it all back together. It may have been harder to start and wouldn't idle even though it was hot. I turned it off and couldn't restart it. I opened the butterfly and gave it a squirt of a gas for the morning. Is there an easy way to tell if it's bad? I hate to buy a new one just to check.

Thanks for your help. There has to be a special place in heaven for mechanics.