Motor hesitation and stopping

The "check engine" light is an indicator for a system that monitors many electronic functions in the system, also called the "malfunction indicator lamp" (MIL). It can come on for any of hundreds of different causes from any of the systems that the computer monitors. Some are very important and can lead to further component or engine damage and some are emissions related not as serious but still a problem and need to be repaired.

Your first step is to have the computer scanned to retrieve the trouble codes that were set when the check engine light came on. On your vehicle, you can jump the A&B terminals of the diagnostic connector to make the check engine light flash the codes. Those codes will give you specific information about what the computer saw and will get you pointed in the right direction to find your problem. Once you have these code numbers, we can be a lot more specific about what your problem may be.

If the light came on, even if it went back out, then there is a code stored. The only way that won't happen is if either someone clears it or there is a problem with the ECM itself.