Ford Repair: Ford E150 Starting Problem, mass airflow sensor, ford e150

Question
I have a 1997 Ford E150, Clubwagon version. I believe it is a 4.6 engine. My problem is that it won't stay started. I can crack the engine and it will start but then it shuts off. I usually have to hold the gas down slightly for a few minutes before it will stay on by itself. Once it is going it runs fine until the next day when I try to start it cold. I had a mechanic tell me that it was my battery and that Ford vehicles have a problem when the battery goes bad the vehicle's memory forgets how to idle. Is this true or is there something else that could be wrong? The gauge on the dash for the battery hasn't shown that it is draining any. Thank you.

Answer
probably a dirty throttle bore and idle air control motor-and or dirty mass airflow sensor-if your mass airflow sensor is dirty the computer won't know how much and the tempature of  the air entering the throttle bore and therefore can't adjust the fuel air ratio for a cold start
sticking idle motor and dirty throttle bore can't adjust idle and may let to much air through

have you had a bad battery if so it may have erased idle memory but it will reset itself after driving awhile as long as above mentioned items are ok.