Cold van + hot ambient temps = hard starting?

[SCM]

I've had this issue for a couple years now. So far it doesn't happen enough to get me worried but I am curious.

After my van sits in the hot garage or hot sun (mid-90 degrees or so) for a while and is being started for the first time, the engine fires but then it holds a very weak idle unless I give it some gas. It will even stall soon after if I have it in gear but don't press the gas (like when going down a hill).

Once the engine is up to temp or even just after being driven for a few minutes it will start up just fine afterwards. If the weather is cooler, no problem at all.

I know my throttle body has a bit of an air leak around the axis/pivot of the butterfly valve. Could that be the issue?

Thanks.
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'91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine

[hdenter]

So...cold engine and warm temps gives a good start, but poor idle until warmed up?
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'79 triple white convertible bug
'84 sunroof vanagon
'85 weekender

[SCM]

I don't know if I'd call it a good start but you're correct.

Usually when this happens the starter will crank for longer than normal before the engine will run on its own - and when the engine does start to run the idle will be very low (couple hundred rpm probably) and it may stall unless I give it gas.

When the issue is not occuring my van fires right up with no problems and will idle at about 900-1000 rpm. When it's cold out the idle will slowly creep upward but I'm pretty sure that's the TB air leak based on the idle going back to normal if I wiggle the accelorator linkage at the TB.
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'91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine

[SCM]

Bump. Never start a thread on a Friday afternoon.
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'91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine

[Vinzanto]

I know everyone recommends this for just about any problem, but I would suggest a new Temp II sensor. I recently battled issues where the engine would require several turns of the starter to get her going and when it did fire up the RPMs were very low; appx 200 rpms, just berely rumbling and grumbling. If I hit the gas it would die, if I hit the brake it would die but if I let it idle the rpms would slowly rise to ~950. I troubleshooted in many different areas before switching the Temp II and sure enough that was the culprit.

[syncroluvr]

Did you get this fixed and if so what did you do? Mine wont start after having run for a while and I have to hold the pedal down and crank till it fires. on one cylinder at a time. All I want is ONE summer out of 5 where this BI#@h doesnt give me grief!
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1990 Syncro Westy with stump pulling 2576cc Subaru

Y2K V6 Passat

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