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Hi Christee.
Have you or your husband checked the fuel pressure regulator for proper function? That's not easy to verify pressure, but you CAN verify if it's getting too much fuel by pulling the vacuum line on the end of the regulator and seeing if it's got raw fuel in the vacuum hose.
Spark plugs COULD cause it, but it would be better now if that was the case. And they don't die suddenly, at least in a whole set of four. Usually one goes bad first, or they all gradually degrade.
Have you checked the diagnostic link under the hood for trouble codes? It might help trace the problem.
It ALMOST sounds like a bad mass airflow sensor. Although the later ones don't die much. Sometimes if you UNPLUG the MAF sensor (only with the car OFF) and try to start it, it will run better. If that's the case, you've diagnosed the problem, and you can actually drive like that, although I wouldn't recommend doing it for a long distance as it doesn't run THAT well.
Also, is the check engine light on? Is it functional at all (i.e. not burned out)?
Check the distributor cap and rotor for the basic cleanliness.
Verify that there are NO intake air leaks between the mass airflow sensor and the intake manifold. That means, no loose vacuum lines, no cracked intake hose, no leaks of any kind. A BIG one will cause the engine to not run at all, like you've said. Since you've verified no exhaust restrictions and good fuel pump, it seems as if the problem might be elsewhere.
So, to recap some likely causes:
1. Mass Air Flow Sensor
2. Fuel Pressure Regulator
3. Intake air leaks
4. Distributor cap problem (arcing, carbon tracks, busted contact for rotor, etc)
Let us know what the results are.
--
Chris Herbst, near Chicago, IL. 93 940, 91 240, 90 240, 88 740, 87 240
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