used the search and nothing definate so here goes the new issue. 03 outback wagon, 2.5l  5 speed. it has started bucking, spitting slightly ( like a missing) sort of when in a higher gear under load. after you get above 2200 to 2500 rpm it will stop the nonsense and drive fine. Timing is spot on as i just pulled it all down today to fix a stripped water pump bolt that started leaking on me. this was going on before doing all this so no its not anything resulting from todays stripped bolt repair. the motor is new, the head gaskets i just replaced again , beings of my luck i somehow got a non upgraded gasket set from an old machine shop that did the machine work 17k miles ago. Anywho, everything motor wise is new, only thing i have not replaced on this car is the electrical components. I have no codes or CEL as of yet , tachometer is steady and it actually runs excellent other than this bucking crap its started doing now. this car may start nickeling and diming me to death but i refuse to give up on it. Any advice on this bucking sputtering is greatly appreciated.

Check fuel pressure. 00-04 have an issue with a cap on the fuel pump assembly that splits and bleeds fuel pressure back into the tank. Usually causes minor problems at first and eventually turns into a hard start or no-start.

if all of a sudden this problem started, any chance a bad tank of gas with some water in it is causing this to happen??

At any point did you have the pigtail to the crank position sensor unplugged? If so just make sure it's plugged back in all the way until it clicks. It can cause similiar problems to yours if it's not fully seated.

look for oil in the spark plug tubes?

I did have cps off to do head gaskets a. Couple weeks back. No oil in plug tunes at all.I was thinking bad gas maybe at first because wife had just filled up. I have some sea come in it right now. This morning the issue was almost non existent but this afternoon its back. Going to double check spark plug wires for leakage and start there

OK guys, I feel like an idiot. I have double and triple checked plug wires, however, my number 3 plug wire was on and completely down but it was not snapped onto then plug . It was sparking against the head apparently. It is totally solved now. One thing for sure, if you don't hear that ( snap) then it is NOT on.

OK guys, I feel like an idiot. I have double and triple checked plug wires, however, my number 3 plug wire was on and completely down but it was not snapped onto then plug . It was sparking against the head apparently. It is totally solved now. One thing for sure, if you don't hear that ( snap) then it is NOT on.

Good to hear you solved the problem.

cool!