[carnut1]

To put it in perspective, a fuel injected car has no "gas pedal" it has an air pedal. Giving the engine more air with the pedal enables the system to provide more fuel by leaving the injectors open longer! By stepping on the air pedal prior to cranking you can delay start up because the sensors are given wrong info. Some cars can even have their throttle blades damaged by being opened prior to cranking the engine! On this engine the thermo air valve next to the cold start injector provides a controlled air leak to raise the idle upon cold start. It works much like a coolant thermostat in that it closes based on engine coolant temp and restricts this air eventually lowering the idle once eng. temp raises. Many of these valves are corroded internally because they are submerged in coolant and either dont open at all or very slightly so the cold start and driveability is affected. Years ago I was told a crude way of testing this valve was to start the engine stone cold and once running, to tap on the top of this valve with a small hammer. If the idle raised or was affected at all, this valve was suspect. My 72 280SEL 4.5 would idle stone cold at about 12 to 1300 RPM for at least 3 to 5 min. then lower to approx. 7 to 800.