1990 Honda Civic Why does my car die out?

There is something wrong with my 1990 honda civic. Ok well it started when the previous owner changed the fuel pump. And then I bought the when I bought the car I changed the fuel filter, valve gasket, and the oil. When thats done started to to test drive it on the road and then all of a sudden when slow down to make a turn my car just died out. It also dies out whenever I came to a complete stop especially at a stop light. So now a friend of mine told me to adjust the idle which I did to make it high. Ever since I adjusted the idle to high my car doesnt want start up. When start up my car it cranked but it after that it stutters. Did this 12-15 and it only start up succesfully one time. The previous owner of my said that said it hadn't been running for few years it was just sitting in his garage for a long time because it wasnt running until he changed the fuel pump. Their is also a leak somewhere below the distributer area.