MOBB

I have a weird problem that just started a couple of days ago on my 2000 TL. The first day I had left my car but left the radio playing for about 15 min. I got back in started it up, on the first try the car started to 500 rpm then died and the RPM dropped to 0. On the Second try, the engine started and just idled at 500 rpm, I hit some gas and the car shook, and a sputtering sound was coming from the exhaust. I let go of the gas and the car died. On the third Try it started again at 300-400 RPM but I hit the gas at 4k rpm and held it for about 20 seconds when I let off the RPM dropped back to normal and there was no rough idle or sputtering the car ran fine.

The problem never occurs while driving or stopping, it only occurs on start up.

The problem now is that every time I start the car I have to hold the gas down for about 20 seconds so the car doesn't die. If I start it without hitting gas it idles really low and eventually dies seconds after.

The car has 122k miles I recently purchased the car so I'm left clueless on what it could be?? I'm thinking it may be bad spark plugs, Vaccum leak or a bad battery??

Bob_F

A failing ignition switch can also cause symptoms like that.

There was an ignition switch recall for the 1999 TL but I'm not sure about the 2000 TL. You might want to log on to Acura's OwnerLink site to check on the recall.

swalch@stanford.edu

Just a guess, but a leaking injector maybe. While the car sits fuel pressure drops and fuel accumulates in the manifold. After it starts you need to burn the excess fuel out.

MOBB

The problem persists sometimes it doesn't always happen now, But as soon it fires up it struggles a lot and I gotta hit gas to keep it alive, while I hit gas it makes a really weird noise like a pop pop pop kind of noise coming form the exhaust.

TLNY

When I hit the gas when this happens I notice it does go away but I got to hit gas once or twice max three and seems normal after that.

thescoundrel

the idle rpm should be around 700rpm, if you have random idle, it could also be the IAVC. It happened to me. The car drives fine except during stops and startup. It was not consistent at first but became more evident afterwards. Try hitting the gas to get the rpm high and see where it drops down to. If it drops below 700 and doesn't recover quickly the engine will just die. I also got no ECU codes.