My 2000 Protege ES has this nasty tendency tosputter, then snap out of it and take off just fine. Also, while cruising at freeway speeds in 5th up inclines, it will hiccup a bit.The sputterhappens in every gear, at all speeds, with the gastank full or nearly empty, with all grades of gas, at all ambient temperatures. I cleaned the throttle body and it still remains. Any suggestions before I take it to a dealer?

 

sounds like coil packs to me. i would give it a basic tune up and throw in a set of coil packs and see if that makes a difference.

 

Yep, sounds like coils. I once had a Nissan Pulsar and every time when it gets to its normal operating temperature, it will do the same - sputtering and hesitating.