Please Help Me

I've got a 95 Taurus. Here's the problem. When cranking, sometimes it turns and then runs so low it cuts off. Example: I crank it. It's having a hard time turning so I give it gas. It turns after 4 seconds or so but as soon as it turns, it is idling very low and it cuts right off. Now if I quickly throw it in reverse or drive, everthing is normal. I have no clue!!! Can you guys give me some things it could be. I've come up with starter, alternator, fuel pump, tune-up. I dont know much about cars but this is killing me. The car has 115,000 miles on it. The bad thing is that once it's started, its fine. Even if i turn it off. It only happens when it's been off for a while like overnight or so. It sounds like it could just need a tune-up. I hope so. Last time, something like this happened to my Mazda and after over 1000 dollars later, I had a new computer chip or something I had to put in it. It got to the point where it would never start. help me out guys.

a tune up would help it sounds like the timeing or the distributor

Ok. If it's a tune-up then thats simple. If it's the timeing, how do i fix that? Is it the same as the timing belt? And the distributor. Is that the same as the distributer cap? Or maybe that stuff is included in the tune-up. Anyway, thanks for the reply. Any other opinions? Anyone?

When you turn the key to start it, does it crank slowly?

Naw, it does not really crank slowly. It just takes a little pressing on the gas to start. IT just wont stay idle when It starts unless I quickly throw it into reverse or drive. Sometimes it wont start if I dont give it gas. IT turns just fine. Sometimes though, it starts with no problems. I'm baffled.

Naw, it does not really crank slowly. It just takes a little pressing on the gas to start. IT just wont stay idle when It starts unless I quickly throw it into reverse or drive. Sometimes it wont start if I dont give it gas. IT turns just fine. Sometimes though, it starts with no problems. I'm baffled.

A new twist that i just noticed. Like I said above, I have to give it gas as it's turning. When I give it gas, I heard a popping or knocking noise coming from under the hood i think. It would make the noise one time as I give it gas. Does this make things any clearer?

A new twist that i just noticed. Like I said above, I have to give it gas as it's turning. When I give it gas, I heard a popping or knocking noise coming from under the hood i think. It would make the noise one time as I give it gas. Does this make things any clearer?