Mitsubishi Repair: 1991 Mitsubishi Pick Up Truck Mighty Max 2wheel drive, emission control system, vacuum leak

Question
I just picked this p/u truck up real cheap and its been running great until I was driving on the frwy.the other day when all of a sudden the Engine light came on and the the engine died. I pulled over and waited a minute and the truck started right up and ran fine but has been backfiring slightly and a bit sluggish. A friend told me it's probably the Catalytic Converter. Is this so and what will the shop price be approximately? I'm not sure I want to put too much money into this truck since its so old???  Thanx,

Answer
Tammy: I would have the truck coded, sounds more like a sensor is out or getting weak to me. But then I guess it could be the catalytic converter. What made them say that was wrong with the truck. What did they base that on? Sometimes when the converter goes the truck or car will blow bits and pieces out of the exhaust. Did you see any of that. And if the converter stops working, it won't in more cases let the truck or car start again. Backfiring makes me think more with timing. When is the last time you tune the truck up? For right now, let's not think catalytic converter, they are pretty costly. I always tell people to go with the easy things first and then to the hard ones. I mean changing the catalytic converter would not be that much of a job but the parts is what is going to hurt you. A tune up would be stark plugs, wires, distributor and rotor. You could do that yourself just get the parts, and have that friend help you do it. My repair manual for engine backfiring has this as ideas... emission control system not functioning properly( so getting the truck coded would explain that one, got an AutoZone close by? They will code your truck for free and then you would know if you have a weak or bad sensor someplace). Ignition timing incorrect(a tune up with help that)or you could have a vacuum leak, that you need a shop to find. But there is a lot of small hoses that carry air to many places in your engine, that has to be under pressure, if you have leak someplace, well it would make the engine backfire. I think for now I would forget the catalytic converter as your problem and just work on a tune up as well as getting the truck coded. I do hope this helps and good luck!