have a 98 legacy brighton that has recently started running bad intermittantly. it started out every now and then when going down the highway it would jerk real hard once or twice then run fine. after several weeks of this it started choking down if you let it idle for a minute or so. now it will crank right back up with no problem and sometimes it will stay running and sometimes not. now sometimes when I start it and pull off it wont take the gas then it starts skipping and jerking. also on nearly every drive to work (18 miles ) it will start skipping and jerking going down the road. I have replaced the fuel filter and map sensor with no change in my problem. the symptoms are getting worse and more frequent everyday. Any ideas

sounds like an ignition problem. Coil, spark wires, plugs. Most likley the coil, wires can do that too. Also a bad electrical contact could be the problem.I would start with the coil. you get a CEL?

Mileage and maintenance info would help.

 

Any major work done lately like timing belt, wires, plugs etc.

 

Is this is a 2.2 liter Brighton?

 

+1 on the CEL. If CEL is on have the codes read.

the car has close to 185,000 miles on it . I bought it last year when gas got really high and it had 170,000 on it when i got it so i dont know about the maint. records. the car is in excellent condition so it is possible that it has been taken care of. I de get a cel and I have a reader for obd2 codes. the only codes I get is an 0325 and an 0325 with a symbol next to it that looks like a lowercase pd. I was getting a code for low input on the map sensor thats why i replaced it. it has a 2.2 engine. It has new plugs and wires but nothing has been donein the month or two before the problem started.

Possible knock sensor?

 

Runs sluggish?

 

Look at it and see if it's cracked for a start.

Definitely start with what the code is telling you. Pull the knock sensor and check it for cracks. Also clean the electrical connector so you know you have good contact.

 

Good luck.

Did you check your knock sensor yet? We haven't heard anything from you. I just replaced mine (I've got a '98 Legacy L sedan), and it makes a huge difference. Let us know what's going on. If you need info on replacing it, we'll help you out.

Knock sensor code, probably due to a bad knock sensor. I bet the EGR valve is partially plugged as well and is sticking.