Rep Power: 0

I have a 95 dx manual that is running great, except that when I go to restart it after I've stopped for food/gas/anything that only takes a couple of minutes.

The problem I've noticed is that it starts and runs really rough and seems like it wants to die. I can power through it and once I get to about 20-25 mph it starts to run normally again. I just had the thermostat replaced because it was overheating. While that was being done my mechanic decided to clean the "throttle body" (that little valve that regulates the air flow).

I don't think the the rough starts were caused by him doing that. But wtf do I know.

So cliffs: no problem starting cold, once warmed up and I turn the car off the engine runs VERY rough.

 
Rep Power: 811

almost sounds like a vacuum leak or the guy forgot to plug something in around the throttle body area. look around the engine see if everything looks connected.

 
Rep Power: 0

It could be a vacuum leak, but I did not see anything that looked disconnected.

 
Rep Power: 0

Ok, so I took it to my mechanic and he looked at the IACV and FITV. The problem did not go away. He is "thinking" that it could be a small leak in the head gasket. Which, with the cost of the radiator and labor will bring the total for this trip up to around $1000 and possibly above.

I am thinking its not worth it. Any thoughts.

 
Rep Power: 811

are there any stored engine codes? its possible that the headgasket has a small leak allowing coolant into the cylinders which is then being burned and causing misfires. could be something else tho too.

 
Rep Power: 0

Well as it turns out the head is definitely leaking. So I pulled the head off and am taking it to a mechanic to find out how much the head is warped. I have all of the new gaskets already, high temp thread locker, and some kind of silicone lube. I am going to be buying new head bolts and gasket glue.

Does anyone know what the sequence is for tightening down the head bolts, my service manual doesn't say.