if its a 4 banger, tis a 2.3L...
previous comments remind me of the ole "ping pong ball" trick...
put a ping pong ball in.. when vehicle is running, it gets sucked down and plugs off fuel supply.. when you shut it off, the ping pong ball floats back to top.. start, it, it runs till ping pong ball gets sucked bak down.. hahaha
it would realy narrow it down if we knew if it was carbed or EFI, roller cam or hydrolic, meh.. mecahnical or electrical fuel pump.. etc etc etc..
an 88 i imagine is efi, with electrical fuel pump, possibly dual plugs..
i would start with a general tune up.. new plugs, wires, cap n rotor, fuel filter..
etc etc etc..
replacng relauys isnt a bad idea either..
also in my experience, clean/replace grounds!!!! (BIG DEAL!!!)
at any rate, i doubt it matters as the original post is from liek 6 years ago... but just thought i'd add in the info anyhow..
also, theres LOADS of infor on the net already for this engine.. a simple goolge would answer all the questions, bring up wiring and engine diagrams galore..
I have 2.3 turbos myself, so trust me, i know very well whats out there having researched them from the oil stain on the ground to the versions used in boats, (Heavier more solid blocks used in the boat enigne versions..

and no, THERE IS NOT a DOHC version aside from the one illusive pic of a cossie race engine floating abot the net.. some very industrious and intelligent ppl have come up with a way to fabricate the volvo 2.3L (toatly unrealtaed engine) onto the ford 2.3L.. bt thats for the die hard mentalists, and not worth the gain now-a-days with esslinger and bo-part heads etc etc etc...)
Anyways they are a potent nerar invincible engine, with LOADS of poetential.. im curretnly putting a 2.3Turbo into my nissan.. haha.. a long term project now-a-days it seems.. but meh..
anyways.. yeah..
~L~