checking CEL? - '88 80Q

[Tess McMillan]

Guys,

What do you do if you're not able to trip code readout using a spare fuse?

I'm getting a CEL which -- when the car is stone cold -- causes a huge
hesitation before I can get the car going in first gear. And from then,
power is a little sucky. When the engine is warm, I still get a slight
hesitation in starting from a stop, but the rest of the time, the power is
fairly perky when I step on the gas.

In trying to figure out what's wrong, I note that I can't trip a code
readout. When I insert a 5 amp fuse into the top of the relay, the car
seems to idle slightly better, and when I remove the fuse, the engine
dies. But there is no dash readout this time. (I waited and waited....)

Any hints?

Tess