1998 Mazda B3000 Engine/no power

Is the check engine light on?

Was the distributor cap and rotor replaced with the plugs and wires? As far as the light flashing, that is what they do when a cylinder is misfiring.

Also, have you checked for vacuum leaks, bad coil wiring or loose connections?

I'm sitting here thinking about your issue. Since the problem went away for a day with the plugs and wires, that leads me to think there is a problem with the ignition system. Let me know about the cap and rotor. Also, make sure the plug wires are properly attached at both the distributor and the plugs.

Let me know what you find.

A lean reading is usually the result of a vacuum leak. Have you checked for that?

I will explain how I check, but you must be careful doing it. With the engine running, I spray carb cleaner on and around the vacuum hoses under the hood as well as the intake gasket. If there is a leak, the engine RPM's will increase.

You can also get a vacuum gauge and check to see what the vacuum pressure is right at the manifold. It should be around 17. If it is much lower, I would question a leak. The only problem is with this method, you don't know where the leak is located.

If you decide to check using carb cleaner, make sure not to spray the cleaner on the exhaust manifold or any other object that could be extremely hot. Carb cleaner is flammable and can catch fire. You should also have a fire extinguisher near by.

Let me know what you find.