Normally we just unplug the brown/black wire near the passenger side of the firewall and check it, but now every time I do it the car just shuts off.

 

When I check the timing, I always unplug the wire before starting the car. Have you tried it that way, or did you unplug the wire with the engine running?

 

I tried it both ways with the same result. Unplug it with it running and it would cut off . . . unplug it and then try starting it and it would fire and then die instantly.

 

Warm up the engine then unplug the bypass. Now start it and work the gas pedal to keep it running. As the gas-pedal reaches fully released the IAC will start to open to raise the idle speed.

May need to tap the pedal to keep it going, but sooner or later the IAC should open enough to hold an idle speed. It's a pain, but once the IAC opens enough it will stay running.

Warming up the engine before timing the engine is important for several reasons.

RBob.

 

The engine was pretty freakin' hot when I tried it. I also tried the gas pedal thing and it didn't matter. Literally it dies in second, if that.