89 Ranger won't stay running

[LincolnGirl]

My husband recently got a 89 Ranger. Well one day on his way to work he said he had to pump the gas a few times to get it started and he just thought it was because it was cold out. Well needless to say he called me from the interstate that evening thinking he was running out of gas (gas gage doesn't work). Well him and a friend put a few dollars in gas in it. but it would start but as soon as he let off the gas it would stall out. I followed him as he tried to make it home and it was giving off a bad odor, and of course wouldn't stay running. He thought maybe it was the fuel filter so he got it towed home and changed the fuel filter and its still having the same problem. at first it takes a minute to get it started and when it starts as long as his foot is on the gas it runs, as soon as he lets off it stalls. Any suggestions? I was thinking maybe the MAF sensor?

[Jacfourteen]

In 89 I think they were still using a MAP (manifold absolute pressure) sensor style fuel injection. If this is the case I would check the vacuum line to the MAP sensor and the sensor itself. The sensor is usually located on the firewall. If something is wrong with it it will blow black smoke, run really rich, and not idle. I had a 90 taurus with a 3.8 and I changed head gaskets and forgot to reconnect the vac line to the MAP. It would only run with the throttle on and it blew clouds of black smoke, as soon as I connected the vac line it ran fine.

[LincolnGirl]

Ok, I'll check that out today. Hopefully that is the problem .... Thanks!