1990 Dodge Colt hard start cold / surges

IDLE SPEED & IGNITION TIMING 1. Ensure vehicle is at operating temperature, all accessories are off and transmission is in Park or Neutral. Vehicle front wheels must be in straight-ahead position and curb idle speed set to specification. If vehicle is equipped with a dual diaphragm distributor, go to next step. If vehicle is equipped with an ignition timing adjustment connector, go to step 3). 2. Disconnect vacuum hose farthest from distributor. Plug vacuum hose. Check ignition basic timing. Connect vacuum hose to distributor. Check ignition actual timing. Refer to IGNITION TIMING table in this article. 3. Ground ignition timing adjustment connector. Timing adjustment connector is a Yellow/Red wire at left of center, on firewall. Check ignition basic timing. 4. Disconnect ground wire on ignition timing adjustment connector. Check ignition actual timing. Refer to IGNITION TIMING table.

Also check/replace coolant temperature sensor, shown here.

your site sucks!, your mechanics obviously don't have an answer so they fluf it off with "i'm not with the vehicle, so i can't give you a definiitive answer" the answer that was given was so shallow it was no help at all!, it appears you are more interested in more fees & selling repair manuals than automobile problems! after running in circles through your site for an hour & 1/2 i wouldn't own a mitchel manual if you gave it away-------------------------------------------------------------------thanks for nuthin'

Gee no info in this answer huh? And where did I say anything about not being with the vehicle? Which website do you work for?

@DHM1 -Are you serious? Those were great starting points to diagnose the problem. For anyone else searching this. Try a known good working ECU. The capacitors are known to leak and damage the mother board. I had the same problem and a new ECU fixed it.