Hey all. I think this might be a common problem but I couldn't find anything:

For the past few months, my GL jerks or putters when accelerating out of a stop or barely moving. It used to be just in first gear, but now second is affected too. Also, it used to be more intermittent, but now it seems to happen every time I step on the gas from a stop. Once I get moving, it's not a problem.

Any ideas? Thanks.

I'd check for any vacuum leaks first and foremost. Check all your vacuum lines, make sure no fittings are off and no lines are split. Remember anything original is WAY past its lifespan. Rubber hardens and splits and refuses to stay on its fittings.

Check the big black hose from Air Mass Meter to the intake. Look for splits in that- they do crack at the folds in the bellows. I think they're still under $20 for a new one from FCP Groton.

Check all your tuneup parts: cap, rotor, ignition wires, spark plugs. Tuneup every 25K on this car. Anything iffy, replace it. There is not a cheaper car in the world to do a tuneup on.

After that, you are probably looking at an Air Mass Meter replacement. These were a problem with 83-84 models even when new. Your LH 2.0 equipped car takes the AMM marked "002". Thats the last 3 digits of the long Bosch part number. These turn up on Ebay and some parts sellers have them new or rebuilt.

Good luck!
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Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: 87 244DL- 249K, B230F/M47, Turbo sways, Bilsteins, GT braces, Virgos, Turbo exhaust, Sumitomos, soon to be retired?

Perhaps either oil leaking from rear main seal onto clutch plate or worn clutch.
Does the motor race when it happens? If so, check for oil dripping out of the bellhousing.