Car occasionally stutters (and stalls) right after starting, runs fine if gas is applied

[psteng19]

1996 Nissan Sentra
1.6 liter 4 cyl
5 speed manual
180k miles

Once in awhile, the car stutters a little right after starting and the engine will stall if I don't give it some gas.
I'll drive it maybe down the block to the first light and sit in idle/neutral where it *might* do it again.

The problem in diagnosing this is that it is intermittent. It'll happen on some days, and it won't happen on others.
It doesn't happen when the car is moving or while in gear. When cruising, the car runs just fine, so it only happens during idle RPMs (don't have tach so I don't know what RPM).

Sparks, cables, distributor cap/rotor changed 1.5 years and 20k miles ago.

 

[Wolfie]

I have a van that is doing kinda the same thing. I found out that it is the idle servo on the intake. It kinda is like a computer controled throtle applier. What it did was it called for fuel when it didn't need it (started to get sticky) and it would flood out the car. Appling the gas while starting it would help, but since I replaced it, it hasn't done it once. Maybe something to check to see if your car has it or not. At least for the van, it was about $50.
But I do have to ask, does it get better or worse after it warms up?

 

[psteng19]

It seems a tad better after the car warms up, but I can't say for certain since my commute is mostly highway. I rarely come to a complete halt on my way home (I'm right off the highway). And also since it only happens occasionally, it's harder to track.

But on my local only treks, it does seem to be better after warming up.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Very hard to diagnose given that it's intermittent, but it is probably what Wolfie described. On some cars it is called the Idle Air Control Valve or the Idle Stabilizer Valve. If you call it the Idle Air Control Valve a mechanic will know what you're talking about.

They tend to get gummed up a little with high mileage and can cause various different idle issues. I would start there.

ZV

 

[No1ustad]

Also may be the fuel pressure regulator?