'88 / Starting / Fuel / DME relay ok / Air flow sensor?

[forrest]

I have an '88 Carrera that won't start unless I
supply power directly to the fuel pump for a few
seconds before turning the key.

I removed the DME relay and checked it out with
some test equipment (and my ears) and it seems
to work properly.

In my limited knowledge this seems to suggest that
either the DME computer is at fault or some input signal upon which it relies is faulty. (Please let
it be an input signal!)

Once started, the car idles properly but bogs when
the accelerator is pressed gently. After a minute
or so of this, I punched the accelerator and it
bogged briefly but then shot up to 3-4000 rpm.
After that, it revs as expected whether punching
the throttle or just gently applying it.

I was able to drive the car after that with no
apparent loss of drivability.

Based on this behavior could the air flow sensor
be sticking at low (cranking) speed and inhibiting
the fuel pump relay from providing power?

I'm getting close to the limit of my knowledge,
patience and tools but I'd like to at least make
a diagnosis if possible before taking it to a pro.

Thanks for any wisdom.

Andrew

[john walker's workshop]

pull the airflow sensor. 3 nuts, a plug and a hose clamp. move it by hand. if the flap doesn't move right away, or binds, that's the problem.

[forrest]

Turns out it was the DME relay after all.

Lessons learned:
#1) When you don't know the test procedure
for a part that is (intermittently) failing, you're
not really testing it are you?

#2) It's hard to beat a simple test that is it's
own repair too.
Namely, taking 5 minutes to replace the DME
relay with the spare one that you carry around
just to see.

Sorry for the long delay in posting the results
and thanks to John Walker for his prompt and
helpful reponse.