i have an 87 GXL. all stock under the hood. my problem is when i go to start the car in the morning or after the engine has completly cooled, it will not start on its own unless i hld the throttle open about halfway. it then fires but runs like a** for a few seconds, then smoothes out. I have searched this before, and all i could find was that the water thermo sensor might be bad

Figuring that could be the problem, i replaced it, and it did not change a thing. Is there anything else i should check that could cause this problem?????

 

I'd still go to pin 2I on the middle plug of the ECU and see if the wiring b/t the water thermo sensor and the ECU is complete or not. You'd backprobe the green/white wire at 2I (with the plug attached to the ECU), to check for approx a half volt dc when the engine is Hot.

Engine cold will give a reading of over two volts dc. It's hard to give a definite number because it's dependent on the water temperature.

A high figure over five volts dc means the circuit is open.

Take note: the plug on the water thermo sensor might have one of it's two sockets *pushed back* in the plug. Look to see if they're even with each other so they'll make contact with the pins in the sensor.

Then again, your problem might be another thing. Got me what.