running on half the cylinders... why?

[CHIF8008]

okay so for the past week i get into my car and start her up- and she sounds like she is running on 3 or 4 cylinders. just a horrible sound- like a super badly tuned Chevy 350. i take her out and for the first couple mins its like that, lack of power and sounds like its wants to blow... but right as she warms up to a lil over 1/4 she smooths out and once she is at the half mark, runs super nice and pulls like a dream.

this just started to happen. and if i start her up and let her sit- she doesn't seem to warm up.thus still running horrible. i have to actually be driving her for it to smoothen out.i have not had the time to look at her more closely but iv checked the wires and most every electrical connector i can see. changes nothing

just wondering what your thoughts are, and what to maybe trouble shoot
its a 1986 325 ES. if that helps any
thanks

[billybobjoseph]

Usually an intake air leak somewhere like the boot or intake man gaskets. Could also be leaking injector, poor fuel pressure ( FPR faulty or a clogged filter ), MAF flap dirty, bad coolant temp sens, TPS isn't adjusted correctly or has failed, idle mixture is wrong, cold start injector operating all the time ( not sure if you have one in that year or not ), or something wrong with your ECM.

[CHIF8008]

is there any way to test the cold start valve. i dont feel like forking out $112 for a part that might not even be my problem

[Kershaw]

why dont you just unplug the cold start valve..?

have you checked the cap and rotor? vacuum leaks?

[CHIF8008]

the ETA's need the cold start valve

im checking those today