1989 5spd 22re base model

So out of nowhere the truck started acting up. I started it up no problem and took off. Once it warmed up and I was driving down the road it started sputtering really bad. Check engine light would flash on and off in random bouts.. So I pull over and it dies. I start it up no problem but it is idling rough now. I take off and have to damn near keep it red lined to limp it home. When I press on the gas it struggles hard.

Battery is nice and tight and I JUST put new spark plug wires on and its still happening. I honestly dont even know where to start.

Anyone have anything for me?

 

Pull the codes

 

Well, since you took the time to write the CEL came on, did you take the time to read the CEL codes?

 

Tried reading the codes from the device at the auto parts store but it just flickers so they couldn't get a reading.

But thanks for the help!

 

Ah, come on Cthulhu! You've been around this forum since Dec 2012, and you take your rig to a parts store to try to read codes?

Follow the FSM: http://personal.utulsa.edu/~nathan-b...85diagnosi.pdf

You'll need Special Service tool, which is a real thing:

but the cheap skates on this forum all use a paperclip.

 

I had a car that would run great for about 20 minutes, then start sputtering and die. Let it sit for a few hours, start it up, same thing, run for a while and then it would sputter and die. It was the electric fuel pump. Electrical stuff can become sensitive to heat. If it is sputtering all the time....bad gas...vacuum leak...???

 

94 22re 4x4 5spd with 338K miles. Doing the same thing shortly after I took it to an indy mechanic to put a fuel pump on (I didn't have time.) Runs fine for 10 minutes then starts to sputter. Eventually dies altogether and then when it cools down it fires up and runs just fine. New plugs, wires, distributor pickup within last 5K miles.

Thank you for validating my suspicion that the fuel pump is going wacky. FWIW, I ran it out of gas a couple of months ago and probably overheated the pump a bit getting it primed again.

Sorry to hijack the thread.