My uncle picked up this car about a week ago and has been driving fine until recently. He had just filled up when the car started stalling on him. Now the car starts, revs up for a few seconds, then dies. Tried to look for the obvious and found a lot of problems that could have been causes but after repairing various vacuum lines, the electrical connectors for the CIS on the firewall, replacing an apparent missing wire on the alternator, checking all fuses, testing the various relays, checking the coil, replacing the spark plugs and fuel filter, testing the air control valve, and checking fuel pressure from the pump I've come up with no solution yet. I'm looking towards the throttle microswitch now but I'm not 100% sure on going about testing it. All I've had to go on so far is a Haynes manual which is practically worthless with half-assed wiring diagrams and mechanical schematics. Looking for someone with some expertise on this particular setup and can't point me in the right direction.

 

Check for spark, check for gas at plugs when problem occurs. That may help you narrow it down. Common problem areas are fuel pump relay(, fuel filter, electrical part of ign switch. If tank is less than half full, add gas, if prob goes away in tank prepump.

 

Know it gets spark and fuel because it does start and revs up for a short time. It just doesn't stay started. Fuel pump relay works, getting plenty of pressure through out the system and the coil is good. The rotor cap and rotor are in bad need of replacement but the car did run before. Has to be something with the idle control system but it's difficult to figure out what it is. The manual I have is too general and doesn't give enough details.