I changed the plugs and it seemed to help... one cylnder has been burning oil and the plug showed it...
With the new plugs it idled fine and I took it for a quick spin, and it ran great while cold.
When it warmed up it seems to chug. Idle is steady, but, its not smooth.
Anyway, It seemed to be fine once over 1000 rpm, so I took it on a 120 mile trip...
Really dumb decision.
I got about 40 miles from home humming along fine, and stopped for the kids at a rest area.
It stalled as soon as I got off the highway, and I had to hammer the brakes to slow down.
I got back on the highway after the pit stop and It was bucking and lurching and I couldn't get past 45... I pulled off at the first exit and limped to a car rental place and finished my trip in a rented toyota.

any ideas? it was hard starting after the trip on the highway... I had to give it some gas to get it to start. Please tell me I can re program the computer and it will fix everything.

 

Did the CEL come on at anytime during this?

 

Yes, The check engine light started to flash after I had the pit stop.
I checked on it today ( its 40 + miles away now) All the new plugs I had put in were completely fouled.. I mean really black. They had all of 45 miles on them.
I could start the car with giving it gas while turning the key, but, it made a lot of valve train noise. If I held the rpm's up at around 2500 it would stay on, but anything less than that and it would die. I think its time for the last rites.

 

Get the code(s)...off in left field, is the cat clogged?

 

I've decided to cut bait,
The car is 1 hr away from me and towing it back to find out it needs more than I want to put in to fix it is not high on my list.

I got an offer of 1,500 bucks as is, where is from a auto auction company, so I think I'm going to jump on it.

Thanks for your help all.

I'm going to look at a 2002 with fewer miles this aft!

Dave