1990 inter. check eng. light with loss of power

[E10ff]

I have a 1990 Ranger, 2wd, At, 2.9L with 162 k. Occassionally the check engine light will come on and the engine will bog for a second or two. This only seems to occur in city driving. Also, while sitting at a light, it may suddenly increase rpm to 1500 for a few seconds. Could this be an Idle Air Control problem? If so, where is it? Thanks

[UsedtobeSmart]

It could be any number of things. There is a way to read whatever code is being thrown if you have an analog multimeter, but you'll need a book to show you how and what the codes mean -- or you could take it to an old-time mechanic or a dealership and ask. Some places charge a fee for computer work, which this qualifies for, but I'd think it'd be worth the extra $20-$40 if I was planning on hitting the 200K marker.

[E10ff]

Thanks so much for the help. Does the need to be on while they are checking it? Sometimes it doesn't come on for days at a time, especially as the days get colder.