2000 Grand Am

I have a 2000 grand am v6 that I just bought about 2 weeks ago. I've noticed that it's been idling funny the past week or so. When I start going faster I can feel the car kind of like tugging. My RPM gauge goes up and down about 5 marks like it's having problems shifting into the next gear. My service engine light came on so I went to an auto place that connected the computer thing to my car and it said that the mass air intake thing needed to be replaced or something. Also, yesterday after I put coolant in it and then drove to work it started getting hotter than usual and I could smell it burn really bad. Does anyone know what could be the main problem? Thanks.

Welcome to AF.

If your mass air flow sensor (MAF) is bad then that will make it run like poop and it will also shift funny.

First I would inspect the wires and plug in, these wires tend to get pulled loose(broke) because they are to short IMO.

And about the running hotter, might try a cooling system flush and new coolant, it wouldnt hurt to replace the thermostat too.

Also sometimes air gets trapped in the cooling system when its ran low. It would need purged out the bleeder valve above the water pump.

Hope that helps