Yeah. If the ref voltage went to heck with the afm connected, it's time for a good used afm. Maybe 35-50 bucks or so. NEW is prohibited. Just waaaaay toooooo much dough.

I would not ever put that afm back on the car. Sooner or later it's going to fry the ECU's ref voltage output. Sinve you've checked it with/without the afm connector on, I'd NEVER put that sucker back on the car.

 

Your case is a very good reason I ask people to check for the five vdc at the brown/black wire on the boost/pressure sensor. No five vdc ref voltage no start. YOUR lucky the item that outputs the ref voltage didn't fry and the ECU is still good.

The afm being the problem could be because someone pulled on the wires on the afm plug when removing the plug instead of the plug itself. Maybe pulled a wire out.

You might pull the afm plug off and look at the PLUG and the contacts in the plug. See if you see something fishy or not. MIght even put the meter on it's brown/white wire and see if 5vd is there. Probably is.

 

UPDATE:

Got the new AFM installed, and the car started!!! for a good 12 seconds...then as soon as i let out the clutch to move it...it move 1 foot, then died.

NOW IT WONT START!! the spark is there the fuel injectors are clicking. the brown/white wire is at 5V with the new AFM. what to do?

I'm gonna go check the main relay right now! if anyone has any suggestions. i'll be by my comp the whole day..

EDIT:: I do have a small vacuum leak...the car wasnt holding idle..BUT it was running...then it stopped starting...

 

No. IF you have spark and the injectors are clicking,then the coils are fine, the cas is fine and certainly the main relay is fine since it feeds the coils voltage and the ECU voltage.

Actually you've got me why it won't start unless it flooded. Buy a can of starter fluid. Pull the fuel pump plug off. Spray into the filter for two seconds and try to start again. IF it starts for a moment, then reinstal the fuel pump plug and spray again and start the car. Let it fully warm up then move it.

You have everything to start the engine. Spark and fuel. No large intake hose off etc. Plug wires on the right plugs etc.