Idle/Problems with dying

I have a 97 Neon Sport, DOHC with about 91,000 miles on it. Lately it's been dying all the time. Sometimes when I start it, mostly when I'm at a red light or slowing down to a stop sign, sometimes while coasting across a parking lot or turning. The idle is always dropping below the "halfway" mark, and sometimes goes back up to normal, but alot of the time I have to rev it to keep it up there.

It seems to only do this right as I start driving it, but I have been avoiding driving it very far.

I took it in to a dealer. (BAD idea.) They told me it was the fuel pump, and wanted $730 plus the $100 diagnosis. I declined repairs, and not knowing anything about cars, had a friend of my replace the fuel pump for free (part cost $233, all shops wanted $400 for it)

The car ran ok for a few days, then started up again, and now the dying is more frequent. I've been looking at a few forums, and no one has mentioned the fuel pump at all, so I'm getting the feeling that I was being taken for a ride to get money out of me.

I've been referred to a mechanic that my friend finds to be very good and honets, but I'd like to have some information so I don't go into this blind..

I just spend $600+ this summer due to a spark plug blowing and ruining the threading in the cylinder head. I'm thinking this is the end of the repairs for this car!

Any suggestions? I am so aggravated with this car! :banghead:

$233 for a fuel pump, I paid $150 for a fuel pump for a BMW. Where do you buy parts?
The idle valve is probably leaking or is clogged
.

$233 for a fuel pump, I paid $150 for a fuel pump for a BMW. Where do you buy parts?
The idle valve is probably leaking or is clogged
.

I bought it at Autozone, and it was the cheapest one that I could find. It's also more expensive if you have a plastic vs a metal gas tank, apparently!

Well, I'm taking the car into a mechanic today to see if they can figure it out... Let's hope that it's nothing too expensive, or this could be her last repair!