Acceleration Hesitation

My 1997 Grand Am (113,000 miles) has started hesitating when I accelerate after coming to a complete stop -- like taking off from traffic lights -- will hesitate, chug and then take off. Almost like it's going to stall. Any ideas what it could be?

is your car beginning to heat up? Is it hesitating going up hills? Does it run fine after it hesitates?

All these are questions related to possible faulty or clogged "CAtalytic Converter" Have that check first, before tranny related stuff .

i would reccomend cleaning the mass.airflow.sensor. I had the same problem, and thats what i had to do with mine.

Have the injectors been serviced? Is the check engine light on? Is your O2 sensor a single-wire or muti-wire (heated)? Also check the plugs, the gap is supposed to be .060in versus .035 that Chiltons and Auto Zone report. Also check/Replace the Air filter.