George,

Do you know, is the car throwing any codes? If it's sensor or ignition related I'd think there would be a bunch of codes. IMO the symptoms point to a fuel related issue based on a similar problem I had with a '94. If there are no codes I would defintely suspect some combination of fuel pump, fuel pressure regulator, or fuel pump. If your daughter can put a pressure gauge on the fuel rail it would, at the very least, rule that out.

Fuel pressure should be somewhere around 40psi, as I recall. On the '94 I had trouble with, the pump was intermittent and the pressure would build to 80psi, then plummet to 20psi, then build back to 80psi...

Good Luck and Happy Holidays.

-Will

I agree that it could be the MAF and possibly with no codes, but I had my 850 for 10 years and dealt with muliple conditions that can cause problems like you describe..

Here are some thoughts. It could be that the idle control valve is dirty. It is hte T-shaped silver thing under the Torx screw and cover on the top of the engine. I had to spray that thing with intake cleaner about 2 times per year to keep the idle stable and when its real dirty the car will stall. Its easy to take out and when you do, rock it back and forth in your hand, the spindle in there should move freely without being hung up.

Clean your battery terminals, my idle went to crap several times from build-up on the terminals. Sounds silly but it worked.

If the car is dying accompanied by most of the dummy lights coming on, that can be the gear position sensor. Doesn't sound like what you have though.

The throttle position sensor is well know to go on these, I think much more often than the MAF. Mine went three times in 10 years while the MAF went once. This is the part that controls the butterfly valve right on the throttle body. Your description sounds very similar to this problem but it usually will also have a loss of power uphill and some lurching or at least a dealy under heavy load.. Its easily replaced in 30 minutes and I thihk I was getting it on the internet under $50. It will throw no codes but will jack up your idle.

Lastly, the fire trap right before the throttle position sensor gets gunked up. There is a little strainer in their that I recommend taking off and throwing in the trash. It frequently got blocked with gunk and my car ran much better for 5 years without it.

Good luck

I have a 96 NA,had the same problem.Electronic fuel pump relay(pinkish color)was only supplying 9 volts to pump.Replaced the relay with red mechanical relay,now had 13 volts at pump but still only 22 lbs fuel pressure.Replaced the pump,problem has not recurred in 2 years since.

Bill

Try cleaning the mass airflow sensor & see if that improves matters any. If not, at least you will eliminate that as a problem!

Just spray the element with MAF cleaner and let it air dry, then reattach it.