2.3L stalls from idle

[mdshumaker]

I have a '91 2.3L LX. 48K original miles. Overall it runs fine, but I've noted lately that there's a slight surging in the idle, and sometimes it faulters and even stalls when the accelerator is pressed. This is most noticable at a traffic light. It's quite embarassing when your engine coughs and shuts down when the light changes to green.
I just aquired this car for my son a month ago (great starter car). I'm thinking fuel system, maybe fuel pump. I've purchased a new fuel filter, yet to be installed.
Any thoughts??

Marc

[carlos80]

Check engine light? It doesn't hurt to make sure that its well maintained, air filter, fuel filter, plugs, wires, injector flush, etc. just to make sure everything is up to par, besides these are htings that have to be done anyway.

[johnwads]

any codes? have you checked them?

[mdshumaker]

Speaking of the CEL....I took the car for a 120 mile run two weeks ago. This was the first extended 65mph trip. After about 35 miles, the CEL would come on for about 15 secs and then go off for several minutes. There was not noticable change in the engine performance when this happened. This continued until I shut down the cruise control and went to "street speeds".
That's the only time I've seen the light come on. The cycling on and off at high speed made me think fuel system. Your thoughts??
I don't have a code reader. I'm thinking of getting one that I can plug in for the next trip to see what code it's setting.
I have not yet checked the plugs. The wires "look" ok, but they are original, so they are probably due to be changed. I'll be doing some of that maintenance this weekend. (wife broke her ankle, so we're not going anywhere) My big fear is a vacuum leak. Those are so hard to find.
Marc