99 escort cutting out

little history: car ran great for one year. bought at 36000, now have 67000. started to run a little rough so 2 weeks ago put in new plugs and air filter. Old filter real dirty. Car ran like new for one week. Last week it started to run a little rough again, 2 days ago it went way downhill. Looked for arcing from spark plug wires but didn't see anything.

Now car has rough idle and when I went to part store today I felt luck to get home. Cutting out both on accelleration and cruising, along with idle. Check engine light is on, has been off and on for the last year. Today for the first time it was blinking on and off at highway speeds.

Ordered an OBD11 today but it will take a while before it gets here. Previous post suggest Idle Air controller, mass air flow sensor, throttle postion sensor and oxygen sensor.

How do I check these items? Have a book but not much help there. Any and all suggestions greatly appreciated. Mahalo!

Idle Air Controller is most likely the cause of your rough idle, also check your timing belt (wouldn't hurt). Can't really check those things, 'cept for the throttle position sensor, and maybe (not sure) your mass air flow sensor. They should have an ohm reading. A Haynes manual can tell what ohms each is supposed to put out, and how to check the others. ($11 at AutoZone)

blinking on and off at highway speeds means a misfire. you should fix that quick or damage will occur.