Intermittent starting problem

I have a 96 XJ. I have been having some random starting issues for a while but they are so come and go I have not done anything about it. It only happens when its cold, below 40* (but its still very random). Ill crank it over and it will start but as soon as i let the key off it will choke for a second then high idle then drop to about 900k or it will choke and die. When it dies I can turn the key and all it will do is crank and wont turn over, I have to basically put the gas to the floor so it will start. From there it is fine, no idle issues no high or really low idle, the only thing is the oil pressure just jumps back and forth between the 40 and the 60. The only other issue after it starts is, if I very gently put the gas there is no hesitation, but if I put the gas on like I normally would it will choke, drop the rpms to 500 then catch and I am off and running. There are zero driving issues other than that. I was told I should clean the IAC and that solved his problem.

Oh I have intake, bosch plugs (like year and a half old), and autozone brand wires that are a year and a half old. The distributor, cap, rotor are all stock 1996.

You were told right.

Well I took the housing and the IAC motor out and still hard starts, and now I idle around 1200k. The gasket for the housing look trashed but still its not starting without me putting on the gas. Could it be a bad IAC motor.

And a little bump before i head to work.

Okay, I replace my IAC, and my TPS. I went to start it and still just cranks without starting unless I put my foot to the floor. My high idle is gone though, UNTIL I tap the pedal, if I tap the pedal it will jump from 900rpms to 1500rpms for about 3-5 seconds then drop down to 900rpms.

If I put it in drive same idle problem and if I put my foot to the floor the rpms will drop down to around 600rpms then catch and rev where I want it but as soon as I let off it will drop down to the 1500 for 5 seconds. Now I am really open to ideas here.

Maybe by now, xjrrrdx, you've solved your problem? But if not, take a look at this thread, where I've been working through a problem that looks a bit similar (and the finger points at the coolant temp sensor).

Here's the discussion http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?p=243424674#post243424674

br1anstorm