I have read a lot of info online, but still have questions. Hope
someone can help - please.
Background: One year ago lost the Timing belt while driving and messed
up 12 of the 18 valve. Car only had 58k miles (wife's grandma's car)
so decided to fork over $1900 for repair. After the repair it ran
great, better than new, I mean surprisingly smooth and fast. That was
a year ago.

Present - Yesterday driving to work it ran fine. However at lunch it
would run rough if the accelerator was depressed until the engine came
to speed then would run at constant RPM just fine. Acceleration was
very rough. I pulled a spark plug cable and after about 10 seconds
things got worse. It died and would not start, not even try to
start. No spark that I could see. I replaced the Ignitor (ignition
control module?), didn't help. Then I replaced the Coil; it then
would start (yeah!) however it ran exactly as before it died - rough
acceleration. I shorted the engine code diagnostic jumper on the side
footwell for passenger, turned on key and read the Check Engine light
flash: 1 long then 7 shorts. This would be 17, correct. This appears
to be a faulty Vehicle Speed Sensor, which would account for the
erratic Speedometer. But why is it running rough and why did the coil
fix the no start condition?

What I think: I think the no start condition was completely seperate
than the rough acceleration issue. Maybe when I pulled the spark plug
wire while the engine was running, I caused the coil (which is
probably original, 16 years old), to fail. What do you think?

But... what is the rough idle cause by. Bad fuel? If it was an
oxygen sensor, wouldn't that throw a code?

Sorry so long. Sincerely appreciate any help.