97 Dakota dies when first started

[davekstl]

I have a 97 Dakota with 90,000. V6 & standard transmission, 2 wheel drive.

When I first start it, it will not maintain rpms and dies. This may continue for 10 mintes and then it is fine.

This happens about 50% of the starts and behaves like an engine wth a stuck choke, but I know there is no choke.

I cannot find a pattern like cold days, hot days, rain, etc.

Can anyone offer an idea?

Thanks

[mark_alta]

I had a similar problem with my 99 5.2L 4X4. My friend owns a Chrysler dealership and he told me to buy a $5 can of injector cleaner and spray it into the throttlebody while running (as per instructions on can). What happens is the idle valve in the throttle body gets gummed up and sticks, and this treatment should cure it. It seemed to cure my truck's problem.

[Dakota00]

Take your throttle body off and clean it with air intake spray, to remove the carbon build up. I have a feeling the IAC motor on the TB is very dirty. You need to take it off and clean it well, but be careful not to break it!!

[Mr. Normal]

Originally Posted by davekstl

I have a 97 Dakota with 90,000. V6 & standard transmission, 2 wheel drive.

When I first start it, it will not maintain rpms and dies. This may continue for 10 mintes and then it is fine.

This happens about 50% of the starts and behaves like an engine wth a stuck choke, but I know there is no choke.

I cannot find a pattern like cold days, hot days, rain, etc.

Can anyone offer an idea?

Thanks

Reply to above: Have you checked the air filter (cheap and simple); then, the EGR valve?
I, have found the injector cleaner, TECHRON [made by, Chevron] (Use the, concentrate if you never used it before.) in a near empty tank before filing up does wonders for cleaning up the fuel system. I have used it for years on everything that burns gas, through fuel injectors and carbs; the list includes a, Gravely tractor, BMW (Techron, is the only recommended product for their engines) Motorcycles, Yamaha Xj700 Motorcycle, Harley-Davidson, Honda Gold Wings, Ford (Police Model) LTD, and any vehicle that I have worked on.
I, also have used, Mystery Oil as a follow up to the fuel cleaning. Run the tank near empty using the cleaner, TECHRON, first. You might want to change out the spark plugs, after running the cleaner through; depending, how dirty your system is at the time. Then add the, Mystery Oil to the near empty fuel tank in the recommended proportion. It helps the "O" rings stay lubricated. Cleaners and Ethenol have been known to dry out "O" rings.