My 87 420sel always started and ran like a champ til one morning when I came out and cranked her for a minute straight. I thought for sure I ran out of gas. I added a few gallons and cranked it through priming the pump and after ten minutes it finally started, and was idling at 2000 rpms. Ever since the car is very hard to start when cold, much like it is out of fuel or starving for it, and idles at 2k. One day I clicked the key off and right back on, forgetting to close my window, and the ignition switching seemed to reset the problem. It went back to normal idle, and when it was cold the next day, started just fine. However, my intermittent problem has become full time, and the ignition trick is not doing the job anymore. starting fluid has become a regular part of her daily diet.

I've been told to check vaccuum lines, but I truly believe this is sending unit/electrical related, due to it's intermittency and ability to 'reset' the problem in the beginning... I just don't know where to begin. Anybody with some info please help, as driving in the snow with the car @ 2k is no longer fun and my new front rotors are starting to warp....

After looking at a few other posts I am wondering, is the idle control valve the inch diameter by 3" long unit that has two electrical leads, and is fed by the cold start injector, goes into intake manifold? I suspected this may be an issue but upon feeding it with power, it can be heard switching open and closed.

In addition to this, the airbag light is on when this phenomenon occurs, and went out when the idle would drop down.
Also I must open the doors to move my seats, I figured that was a ground issue somewhere in the door switch cicuit and probably not at all related.
I've been told possibly something to do with the alarm system?

If you can be of any help a posted reply or email direct would be very much appreciated!!! brettandrew@frontiernet.net
thanks in advance!!

Might be similar to my issues with my seats??
Go do a search under "advanced search" look under posts via "User Name" ..."Harpman"...you'll see one I posted called "Seat Goofiness"...sounds like you have more than one electrical issue....????
Good Luck!
harp