I’ve read some of the posts concerning sputtering EA82T’s and I too have a similar issue. I haven’t looked into the tank but I’m sure there is some rust - 1989 Wag w/213000mi. I keep filters, grounds, and sensor connections clean and I still have an intermittent surge problem. I have changed the ECU coolant temp sensor. It will build boost when sputtering. Only sputters when just off the lower cold mark when accelerating, say from a stoplight. If it’s up to operating temp it fine, idles fine. I’ll come off the stoplight releasing the clutch, engage the clutch, and at 1500-2000 rpm in first it will sometimes sputter- feel like it goes rich. I’ll stay in the gas pedal and it will come out of it like –POW- all that loaded up fuel takes off and out you go. While sputtering if I clutch and race the engine it will clear up sometimes. New ignition components, I did have to replace the O2 prematurely as it fouled out I’ve been getting 22 mpg. I’ve cleaned the MAF and tested the TPS ok. My ECU green diode flashes one continuous dash, dash, dash, dash. I do allot of Short City driving with a monthly 4-hour trip. The freeway trip does seem to help by perhaps cleaning the O2?

we had the same problem, turned out to be the tps, same with an spfi. try a replacement to be sure

 

we clocked the tps(screws) to make it think the throttle was more open, and that helped quite a bit. now the occurrence is rare