IAC is stuck closed. You can check it with a flash light by looking into it's little cubby. DON'T try to push the plunger back, that will internally damage the IAC if it's not already deceased.

 

The alternator keeps it running when you keep the revs up. Battery doesn't have enough power on it's own.

 

If the battery was bad, it likely would not spin over much less repeatedly. Sounds to be like a classic IAC issue.

FWIW, my 2¢, on my truck I removed the cover for the blade adjustment screw, and opened up the butterflies to .080 of an inch with a torx driver. It's just enough to help it cold start, not have as many idle issues, and vastly improved throttle response, but the TPS doesn't mind the neglible change in throttle closed voltage. Mind you, my truck is not stock by any stretch of the imagination.

 

Might be a weak or failing fuel pump.

 

I have had that problem several times, when the battery gets too low to start and you jump start it, it will not idle and will only run by giving it gas. The cure is to disconnect the battery, discharge any residue voltage by turning the lights on, then reconnect the battery. This resets the computer and it would run fine.

 

Finally got back to this... Just for fun, I went out and tried starting the truck again and of course, it ran just fine without doing anything. Regardless, I did replace the IAC since it was only $25 and it was pretty gunked up. I did take off and clean the throttle body as well. Took it for a few runs around the block and it seemed to run just fine, but since it was running before I did the work on it, I have no way of telling if that was the real issue or not.

I think I might have messed up the throttle cable somehow though, since the pedal doesn't seem to have any "play" in it...it kind of feels stuck to the floor, so if I press on it, it makes the truck go, but I can't press much before it's bottomed out. Might be a cable that needs tightening or something.

Anyway - thanks for all the pointers! I'll just have to wait and see if this fixes it indefinitely or not.

Cheers!

 

Check how you have the throttle cable routed. It should make the shape of a "D" with the curved side going down.

 

check injector also. my 99 dak had the same problem. changed IAC and half the problem were fixed. the other half is a dirty injector. not fixed yet it's stored for winter ( f*****g salt in the road ) but i know its the injectors.