Hi-I am new to the forum. Recently purchased a 95 Protege LX, 80k miles, 1.5 liter engine. Will start and drive fine for a half hour to 3 days. Suddenly drops in power and bogs down if you acelerate. If you ease the gas just a little it will go but if you give it more gas it bucks and stutters. Eventually gets CEI. Park car-starts up in a short time or next day like nothing happened. Has been scanned for codes twice but nothing shows. I dont want to just start pumping parts into this thing via shotgun method. Any suggestions where to look? MAF has been suggested but I would think problem would be there all of the time. Possible issue with vacuum leak comes to mind but again intermittant as well as fuel filter. Thanks for all ideas.

 

Fuel filter, if you haven't done it in a while. When was the last time the timing belt was changed.

 

As I stated, I just purchased this car from someone who probably did not maintain it as it should be (20 year old female student!) My guess would be that the fuel filter has not been changed and I know that the timing belt is original. I have never heard of a timing belt creating this issue-can this be in this car?? By the way, it is an automatic. Thanks