What is the likely culprit?

[Spinnetti]

Car starting hard, dies first couple starts in the cold... ideas?

I just replaced the thermo sensor on the back of the head (died) and the thermostat and housing (broke), but it acted about the same before and after.. thoughts? Last tank of gas gave horrible mileage and tailpipes blacker than normal... seems rich? once warm, making great power (just did only my second full on rear wheel power slide today :) (esp off)..

[dougyfresh]

Is the car throwing any codes?

[favianjanitra]

from my experienced it could be one of these things:

engine speed sensor, fuel pump, fuel filter, bad gas.

My culprits were engine speed sensor, fuel pump and fuel filter all at the same time!

[Spinnetti]

No codes as of yet. My indie shop suggested a TB cleaning. I hope its not all that other stuff! - Its basically run great for 80k miles (except for some bad APR software along the way), so I'm not yet experienced in the failure modes on this car. I've only replaced the fuel filter once, so that might be a good idea, but I doubt bad gas.. I buy from a busy station, so should be pretty fresh. Could be pump maybe, but seems rich not lean, and I don't hear any pump whine like I did on my old VeeDubs...

[Maverick]

it couldnt be your fuel pump, the pump doesnt built enough pressure.