Oxygen sensor was replaced less than 2K ago, along with cap, rotor, plugs, air filter and oil/oil filter. Plug wires checked out fine as did the coil wire. Igniter and coil checked out fine with the multimeter as well. Gonna also check the ECU and fuel pressure later... I'm hoping this doesn't turn into a spendy fix! How does one check if the fuel pump is faulty?

Good info, thief - thanks! I'll check the pressure when I have time, and get back to y'all with the results. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Since you went splashing through water before this stuttering problem, I'm going to say you've got a water problem. Granted, it's been a few days now and things should have dried out, but there's a number of connections that point upwards and are capable of holding water. This is something many of us who have steam cleaned our engines are well aware of. Clean the engine and spend days spluttering and stalling.

Fwiw, there is a subtle but distinctive difference in the way the engine will die from ignition failure vs fuel line pressure loss. Ignition failure will be very "square edged". As in runs, doesn't run. There's no in between or fade out. When fuel pressure drops below critical from something like fuel pump failure the edge isn't as sharp. The engine fades out and dies. It's more "round edged". You can simulate this by pulling the fuse or the connector and see what I mean.

It was definitely "square edged" when it cut out. Hehe, I may have found the problem <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />. When I was checking the wires and the coil/igniter, the coil wire didn't seem to plug into the coil very well. A little finagling, and it clicked into place. I hadn't driven the truck since then, and today, I decided to take it to work. It never sputtered the whole way. I'll have to drive it more to see if that was the culprit. *if it is, i'll feel like an idiot <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />*

Okay, so it still sputters <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" /> - at least I don't have to kick myself! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Back to the drawing board...

I did a little more probing today, and found that the plugs were a little wet and smelled very strongly of fuel. I also checked the power transistor in the igniter by using the FSM method of hooking a 1.5V battery to the wiring connector that connects the coil/igniter to the distributor. The voltage should be between 5-8V, I got 7 and change. I did notice a crackling sound, like something was sparking somewhere. If anyone has done this check before, is this sound normal? Or should I be looking for a short somewhere?

A crackling noise is most likely the high voltage jumping somewhere. Open up the hood in the dark of the night and you'll most likely then see where this is happening. 12 volts won't make a crackling noise, the voltage is too low.

Yeah, I couldn't see any sparking or arcing with the lights off, go figure...

I ended up getting a code 6 after the testing, and the truck would not run at all, just coughed and sputtered. So I replaced the coil/igniter combo with one from the local J-yard, and it ran again. It still cuts out and sputters, nothing like it was earlier though.

Anyways, I got fed up with it and took it to a local shop. So we'll see what they find.