I have this problem for quite a bit. The idling speed when engine started cold is between 700-800 rpm. As the engine gets hotted idling rpm increase to almost 1000rpm. If idling is adjusted back, the rpm is starts low (engine vibration felt) at cold start and most of the times engine can not start. When gas pedal is pressed the engine stalls and sounds the engine is choking. My vehicle is a 1994 Nissan van with 2L engine. Am not sure if it similar to Sentra or Altima but it is carbureted.

belt worn, loose or idler pulley weak --compressor clutch binding,moisture in system ,compressor internal damage

Catch?
cranks fast
starts every time.
idles fine hot or cold , or both? hot idle not too fast.
i race engine , in park and neutral, I can hit 3500 rpm easy, can you.
i release brakes, (brakes are not packed in ICE , are they?)
I select 1gear or reverse (A/T or m/t)
the car moves or dont move, which is it, my guess catch = no move at all.
I try to drive, i look at RPM and MPH
RPM moves up and MPH track.
track means they both move in a linear progression.
RPM rises and for all RPM increases MPH also increases.
does it?
if all that works then we have an engine power issue.
weak on hills?

cold engine idle surge. (problem)
RPM range of surge not stated
300-700 or 800 to 1500? (range is critical to diagnosis)

bad fuel
running summer fuel in winter (running old fuel?)
needs a tune up bad, see the list in the operator guide.
idle speed controller,sticking or EGR valve same. (clean them)
location not stated, so cant guess about local air temps.?
no other symptoms, lack of engine power? etc?
was it ok last week, or better, when was the last time it was OK?
1week, 1year?
surge , causes, on a tuned engine might be:
1: too lean. so lean the ISC can not control idle. rpm low, stalling
2: too rich, flooding, stalling, spark plugs foul (look at them)
3: weak compression in 1 or more cylinders.
4: bad spark.
5: air leaks, in the plenum causing , ISC to lose control.
why high RPM?

especially?
well that means it fails hot too.
and there is a simple tests. for hot surge.
is engine fully hot? 180F and holds solid there?
say rpm is about 800
and you turn on head lights, heater fan and (not AC) and defrost.
the RPM must hold or the ISC is failing.
ISC -= idle speed controls. (all EFI has this function)

Check your power steering fluid level ?

Heater core may be clogged. Try flushing it to see if water flows through freely. Also check the heater water control valve for restrictions.

Its cold start issues:----
Go through the list of help links mentioned below:----

Click the link :----

Cold start problem and vehicle shudder around 2500 to 3500 rpms
http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/10/cold-start-problem-and-vehicle-shudder.html
----------
Low idle when cold out side?
http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/12/low-idle-when-cold-out-side.html
--------------
Ford explorer 4.0 will not idle when cold?
http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/ford-explorer-40-will-not-idle-when.html
--------
Automatic transmission shift lever hard to move on cold mornings?
http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/automatic-transmission-shift-lever-hard.html
----------
Car won't start when cold?
http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/car-wont-start-when-cold.html
-----------

It can be issue with IAC( idle air control valve) causing the problem.

There are many other possibilities causing these idle issues. Engine idles rough.

There are few help links with solutions to troubleshoot such idle issues.

I suggest you refer the link below and follow its troubleshooting details:------

Click the link below:-----

Ford Expedition IAC valve replacing

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/12/ford-expedition-iac-valve-replacing.html

Bad miss at idle?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/bad-miss-at-idle.html

-----------

Stumbling and stalling at idle after engine rebuild?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/03/stumbling-and-stalling-at-idle-after.html

------------

1999 Ford F-150 Idles rough and quits when gas pedal is pressed less?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/01/1999-ford-f-150-idles-rough-and-quits.html

---------

Engine stumbles coming off idle when warm?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/01/engine-stumbles-coming-off-idle-when.html

------------------

Erratic idle on car?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/erratic-idle-on-car.html

-----------

Cold start problem and vehicle shudder around 2500 to 3500 rpms

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/10/cold-start-problem-and-vehicle-shudder.html

----------

Low idle when cold out side?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/12/low-idle-when-cold-out-side.html

-----------

GMC Sonoma Stalls and idles low

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/10/gmc-sonoma-stalls-and-idles-low.html

--------

GMC Idle Air Control (IAC) Valve Replacing?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/gmc-idle-air-control-iac-valve.html

-------------

1996 Camry intermittent engine failure while idle?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/10/1996-camry-intermittent-engine-failure.html

------------

Engine quits at idle?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/10/engine-quits-at-idle.html

-----------

Car overheats and Air blows hot at idle?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-overheats-and-air-blows-hot-at-idle.html

---------

High Idle Problem

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/10/high-idle-problem.html

-------

While stop engine idles like cylinder missing?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-stop-engine-idles-like-cylinder.html

---------

Idle flair is noticed on car? Rough idle? car will not idle? Erratic idle speed?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/idle-flair-is-noticed-on-car-rough-idle.html

--------

High rpm in neutral? Inconsistant high RPM in neutral?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/high-rpm-in-neutral-inconsistant-high.html

-------

Vehicle stumbling at idle and shows code 54?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/03/vehicle-stumbling-at-idle-and-shows.html

----------

Rough idle, staling and Erratic shifting?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/03/rough-idlestaling-and-erratic-shifting.html

-----------

While stop engine idles like cylinder missing?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-stop-engine-idles-like-cylinder.html

---------

These details will help.

Thanks.

Has it ever been tune up,

It can be issue with IAC( idle air control valve) causing the problem.

There are many other possibilities causing these idle issues.Engine idles rough.

There are few help links with solutions to troubleshoot such idle issues.

I suggest you refer the link below and follow its troubleshooting details:------

Click the link below:-----
Bad miss at idle? http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/bad-miss-at-idle.html

-----------
Stumbling and stalling at idle after engine rebuild?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/03/stumbling-and-stalling-at-idle-after.html

------------
1999 Ford F-150 Idles rough and quits when gas pedal is pressed less?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/01/1999-ford-f-150-idles-rough-and-quits.html

---------
Engine stumbles coming off idle when warm?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/01/engine-stumbles-coming-off-idle-when.html

------------------
Erratic idle on car?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/erratic-idle-on-car.html

-----------

Cold start problem and vehicle shudder around 2500 to 3500 rpms
http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/10/cold-start-problem-and-vehicle-shudder.html

----------
Low idle when cold out side?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/12/low-idle-when-cold-out-side.html

-----------
GMC Sonoma Stalls and idles low

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/10/gmc-sonoma-stalls-and-idles-low.html

--------


GMC Idle Air Control (IAC) Valve Replacing?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/gmc-idle-air-control-iac-valve.html

-------------
1996 Camry intermittent engine failure while idle?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/10/1996-camry-intermittent-engine-failure.html

------------
Engine quits at idle?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/10/engine-quits-at-idle.html

-----------
Car overheats and Air blows hot at idle?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-overheats-and-air-blows-hot-at-idle.html

---------

High Idle Problem

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/10/high-idle-problem.html

-------
While stop engine idles like cylinder missing?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-stop-engine-idles-like-cylinder.html

---------
Idle flair is noticed on car? Rough idle? car will not idle? Erratic idle speed?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/idle-flair-is-noticed-on-car-rough-idle.html

--------
High rpm in neutral? Inconsistant high RPM in neutral?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/high-rpm-in-neutral-inconsistant-high.html

-------
Vehicle stumbling at idle and shows code 54?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/03/vehicle-stumbling-at-idle-and-shows.html

----------
Rough idle, staling and Erratic shifting?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/03/rough-idlestaling-and-erratic-shifting.html

-----------
While stop engine idles like cylinder missing?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-stop-engine-idles-like-cylinder.html

---------

These details will help.

Thanks.

It can be issue with IAC( idle air control valve) causing the problem.

There are many other possibilities causing these idle issues.Engine idles rough.There are few help links with solutions to troubleshoot such idle issues.
I suggest you refer the link below and follow its troubleshooting details:------Click the link below:-----Bad miss at idle? http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/bad-miss-at-idle.html
-----------
Stumbling and stalling at idle after engine rebuild? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/03/stumbling-and-stalling-at-idle-after.html

------------
1999 Ford F-150 Idles rough and quits when gas pedal is pressed less? http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/01/1999-ford-f-150-idles-rough-and-quits.html

--------- Engine stumbles coming off idle when warm?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/01/engine-stumbles-coming-off-idle-when.html

------------------
Erratic idle on car?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/erratic-idle-on-car.html

-----------

Cold start problem and vehicle shudder around 2500 to 3500 rpms
http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/10/cold-start-problem-and-vehicle-shudder.html
---------- Low idle when cold out side?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/12/low-idle-when-cold-out-side.html

-----------

GMC Sonoma Stalls and idles low http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/10/gmc-sonoma-stalls-and-idles-low.html
--------

GMC Idle Air Control (IAC) Valve Replacing?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/gmc-idle-air-control-iac-valve.html

-------------
1996 Camry intermittent engine failure while idle?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/10/1996-camry-intermittent-engine-failure.html

------------
Engine quits at idle?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/10/engine-quits-at-idle.html

-----------
Car overheats and Air blows hot at idle?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-overheats-and-air-blows-hot-at-idle.html

---------

High Idle Problem
http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/10/high-idle-problem.html
-------

While stop engine idles like cylinder missing?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-stop-engine-idles-like-cylinder.html

---------
Idle flair is noticed on car? Rough idle? car will not idle? Erratic idle speed?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/idle-flair-is-noticed-on-car-rough-idle.html

--------
High rpm in neutral? Inconsistant high RPM in neutral?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/high-rpm-in-neutral-inconsistant-high.html

-------
Vehicle stumbling at idle and shows code 54?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/03/vehicle-stumbling-at-idle-and-shows.html

----------
Rough idle, staling and Erratic shifting? http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/03/rough-idlestaling-and-erratic-shifting.html
-----------While stop engine idles like cylinder missing? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-stop-engine-idles-like-cylinder.html
---------These details will help.Thanks.

spark plugs? spark plug wires? coil? if it shuts off when hot, and starts when cold, coil could be problem....could be radiator stopped up causing it too heat, and will go off wait a few and it'll start back up...