89 300ce hard cold starting

[mlozzi200478]

when the temp is below 30 degrees,the engine is hard to start,i turn it over it starts then dies,this happens about 3 times,then on the fourth try it catches and idles,this car spent its whole life in miami heat,now its in cold new england,does this have something to do with a cold start valve,also this car was hardly driven its only got 65,000 miles on it

[samiam44]

Could be a lot of things...

You need to have proper voltage - weak battery or could voltage regulator. Fuel wise, I'd guess it has an intake leak with the cold start valve (there is rubber part). At that age- I'd be replacing the injector seats too.
Measure the resistance of the temp sensor (need to know the temp) and compare to factory spec.

All very easy.. just take your time. Yep you can clean the Aux airvalve whlle you have it apart. Symptom would suggest a small split in the coldstart hose- or possibly another vacuum elbow etc.. those plastic lines crack with age too.

Michael