I'm currently working on a friends little 4 banger. It idles fine in park, but when you put it in drive or any other gear, it boggs down and dies. I checked compression and got good results. Plugs look good but the cap and rotor have a little corrosion. It's not throwin any codes, I don't think (light hasn't come on). I checked vacuum lines and they are all connected. I don't know what else to check...

The car drives fine at highway speeds, but it's just when you get into the low idle.

I don't have the tools to check for fuel pressure, but I'm not excluding the fuel pump.

My 89 Bird did this too and the cause was the fuel pump.

Any ideas? I'm not a mechanic yet, but it a few years i will be.

All help is appreciated. Thanks.

-Josh

 

Ya know this will be locked soon?

Anyways, check and see if the torque converter is staying locked up. Might be able diag by just unplgging TC lockup plug from tranny.

Next, check whatever is used for idle air control.

Not sure if fuel delivery is an issue, since it runs okay at speed?

 

There isn't any unusual pull at stop lights so I don't think that it's the TC. What about a good fuel injector flush/cleaning?

 

Couldn't hurt.
Since no stall at light, should be able to rule out TC.

I'd still suspect lack of air as an issue...IAC (on our engines it's called) or maybe gummed up Throttlebody as well.