No throttle response at all during hot start

I've been having issues with hot starting, which I think (and, based on the opinions of some mechanics I've talked to who are experienced with Bosch CIS) are connected to a sticky plunger in the fuel distributor. I've been trying to get that plunger moving smoothly. I made good progress yesterday with carb cleaner sprayed at the bottom of it with a long straw through the air metering nozzle, plate removed. The initial part of the stroke is now light and smooth to the touch, while I still feel resistance/stickiness 1/2-2/3 of the way through the stroke. My throttle response off the line is markedly smoother and more linear.

As to the starting, I've always had a problem starting it hot. I can usually "catch" it with a little throttle pedal (air flow making the plate move...?). A lot of the times, I then have to keep some pedal pressure for about 20 seconds to make sure the idle doesn't die. However, yesterday both before and after I cleaned up the plunger, I experienced hot starts where the car was struggling to fire, but my depressing the throttle pedal caused absolutely zero effect. The second instance - in the evening, after I had cleaned the plunger, about an hour post-drive - I pressed the pedal lightly, I matted it...no discernible effect. The car finally caught and started on its own, but after a few key cycles and 30+ seconds of effort.

Any ideas on this other than the plunger?

 

Thank you, Sean. That's a reference book I think I need! (Just found it online, btw...thanks.)

The only thing I've changed that might have led to this problem is R&R'ing the air flow sensor plate. I was very careful to center it each time I took it off - concentric within the throat and overlapping at all points on the circumference - but, maybe? I don't know how else I would "adjust" it.... I cleaned the rim of it, but that was in between the two instances of the "no throttle response" starts.

I guess my fears are gaining weight: that I need to pull and refresh every aspect of this fuel system. Wow, that's daunting.


Beau