I've been swapping parts, correcting vacuum leaks and shorted wiring for two months. I've also been studying Brickboard posts regarding airflow meter (AMM) testing. Several posters have said that, when engine performance seems better with the AMM unplugged (limp home mode) than with it plugged in, MOST LIKELY the AMM is faulty. That would mean that most likely the replacement AMM I bought from a salvage yard is as faulty as the one it replaced, because with either of these AMM's attached cold starting is difficult (I need to apply the accelerator to start the car and rev the loping engine to get any power to get moving from a standstil) but with no AMM attached the idle is smooth.
Is it less likely, but still possible, that one or both AMM's are good but my ECU is faulty? Or fuel pressure regulator or even timing or something else? What is ruled out by the fact that the "limp home" idle is very smooth? Can I rule out fuel pump problems, fuel injector problems and the fuel pressure regulator?
In the next few days I need to take a long trip in my 1984 245 and it would be ideal if I could find someone (either a professional technician or an interested amateur) along my route up the East Coast of the USA (Virginia to Maine) whose 1983 or 1984 B23F could try my AMM and/or ECU in their vehicle to see whether I either need to buy yet another AMM or an ECU or try something else.
I'm trying to discover whether my low-tech analog multimeter can definitley locate a faulty part of my car's systems, but I'm running out of time before I have to travel.
I've also heard and read apparently contradictory advice about whether a leak of air into the oil dipstick hole can cause the symptoms my 245 is experiencing. I'm trying to repair the dipstick tube that is broken off at a point just above where it enters the block.
I have cleaned the TB, checked the IAC valve with 12 volts, replaced injector seals, installed a new ETC sensor, installed new plugs, wires, rotor, cap, intake and exhaust manifold gaskets.
What should I try next? I appreciate any insight that may come my way.