My 1990 DL wagon ran out of gas today. When I filled the tank back up to about half and tried it the following would occur:

backfiring
crank, then a total power loss mid-crank, then cranking again.

It finally started up again after one of these power dips and idled until I put it in gear. Stalled immediately when i let up the clutch. After 3 more starts and stalls and about 2 hours I finally got it running and back to the house.

Once it was home it would turnover every time free of issue, however, it is now sounding pretty loud almost as if there is a new exhaust leak.

I also noticed one of the wires on the o2 sensor has broken off. Does this sound like an o2 sensor issue or a combination of things?

Ive not checked any codes.

 

o2 sensor cannot cause any of those symptoms. i can't see how running out of gas can trigger an exhaust leak... may be a fuel pump issue, the running problems you describe, ok, but not an exhaust leak. probably just coincidental.