1998 hard starting=

1998 with about 85,000 miles. fuel filter and pvc replaced at 45,000 miles. recently intake manifold gasket replaced and also 6 new spark plugs . monthly use 1 bottle of walmart fuel injector cleaner. NOW = outside temp is about 45 degrees. motor is cold. turn the key and motor trys to start but stalls. turn the key with a foot on the gas and motor starts.i,m calling a friendly shady tree mechanic. probly will replace wires and fuel filter and pvc. then we,ll see what happens. he drives a lumina also . he said he knows where to get a good set of wires inexpensively. i,ll keep the forum posted.

If it will start with your foot on the gas, I'd suspect a bad fuel/air mixture upon startup maybe caused by a faulty IAC motor.

I agree with tblake. The IAC is a small stepper motor that helps regulate the amount air allowed in the engine at cold start (it's function is similar to a choke on a carburetor), closed and part throttle. It may also cause irradic or high idle once the engine is warmed up.

update= must have been a bad batch of gasoline. it cured itself.