Please Help: car bucking
 

I have a '96 Protege DX 1.5L standard transmission 122K miles. It recently began bucking during acceleration. When I accelerate very slowly, or stomp on the gas pedal, it doesn't buck, or atleast not as badly. It seems to have gotten worse over the last two weeks. At first I tried a higher octane gas - nope. Then I checked the distributor cap, and spark plugs - both fine. Next, I read on this forum that similar problems pointed to the Mass Air Flow Sensor. After calling a dealer and finding out it was $250, I found a salvage yard hadonefor $75 and told me if it didn't work, he would let me exchange it for another one. After trying both of them out and finding they didn't work, I found a tear in the air intake hose. Replaced that, but still the problem continues. My question then is: Do I need to buy a new MAFS? Do I need to check the fuel pump? Or is the fuel injectors? Please help, this problem is driving me nuts. Thanks.

RE: Please Help: car bucking
 

If replacement MAF's had same symptoms then new one will probably not make any difference either. I would start with a new set of spark plugs and plug wires.

RE: Please Help: car bucking
 

I took the car to dealer (not really what I wanted to do) because I figured they'd be able to tell me what's wrong. It turns out, the rotor was bad. $550 later, car is running fine.