# Won’t start unless I open up throttle

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/won-t-start-unless-i-open-up-throttle/150864>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [October 16, 2019, 5:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/won-t-start-unless-i-open-up-throttle/150864 "2019-10-16T17:44:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Adrian\_Allen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Adrian\_Allen](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Adrian_Allen)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 5:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/won-t-start-unless-i-open-up-throttle/150864/1 "2019-10-16T17:44:01Z")

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I have a 2001 Chevy express 5.7 extended and the only way to get it started is if I hold the gas pedal when I’m turning the key.  
Maybe you guys could give me some tests to run to figure out the problem? Thanks

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 5:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/won-t-start-unless-i-open-up-throttle/150864/2 "2019-10-16T17:56:54Z")

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If the idle air control valve doesn’t allow air into the engine, it won’t start unless you hold the throttle down.

Also, if the engine is flooded, holding the throttle down clears the flooded condition. But you can usually smell gas if that happens.

Try cleaning the IAC valve and throttle body with throttle body cleaner to see if that helps.

Tester

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**Author:** ![Adrian\_Allen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Adrian\_Allen](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Adrian_Allen)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 9:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/won-t-start-unless-i-open-up-throttle/150864/3 "2019-10-16T21:23:32Z")

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Thank you I’ll try that

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**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 3:23am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/won-t-start-unless-i-open-up-throttle/150864/4 "2019-10-17T03:23:45Z")

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If you have to hold the gas pedal all the way to the floor, flooded is more likely. If pushing the pedal even slightly down allows the engine to start, the IAC is the more likely culprit.

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**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 3:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/won-t-start-unless-i-open-up-throttle/150864/5 "2019-10-17T03:49:35Z")

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Until fuel injection came along, this was the way you started a car.