ok guys (and gals),

I have an 88 Dakota 4x4, 3.9, auto, around 180,000. when i start it it will idle for aboiut 5-7 seconds then the rpms drop and it stalls. when it does idle it idles smooth, no backfires shakes rattles unusual noises or anything like that. you can keep it running by tapping or pumping the gas. put it in gear and unless your pumping the gas it will die. ok so now your in gear pumping the gas and it accelerates very slowly till it reaches about 45 and thats as fast as she will go but anywhere above 30ish you can keep constant pressure on the throttle and it will go fine. i have replaced the fuel pump filter strainer and pressure regulator. i also replaced the map, tps, and one injector. the odd thing is that it seems to run better with the ics (idle control selonoid disconnected) not sure if thats the correct name or not)

i hope someone has an idea because im out of ideas.

and ps. the tps, pressure regulator and map sensor i had laying around so i didnt go out and buy them thinking they were the problem. i replaced the fuel pump strainer and filter because i thought it was a clogged fuel filter as the gas that i poured out of the inlet on the fuel filter was about the color of coffee so at first i figured i may have burnt the pump out trying to push the fuel throiught the clogged filter

 

Have you read your spark plugs? Have you acertained if there are carbon tracks on your distributor? Sounds like either a vacuum leak, or timing issue.

 

opps yeah sorry i forgot to mention that i pulled a plug and it was perfect, slight covering of tan ash, electrode looked good. looks like its running at the idea ratio. i believe timing as well and i have not looked to hard at the dist yet.

 

Well, it has to be fuel, spark or timing....it's not rocket science