Pontiac Repair: Car Jerking, mass air flow sensor, mass air flow

Question
Hello, I own a 1999 Grand Prix GT 3.8L and Ive been experiencing some jerking while at low RPM's. The jerking is so bad that it causes my car to turn off. I drive and reach a stop where the car acts like its going to turn off. The RPMs fluctuate between .5 and 2 and the lights inside get dim and illuminate over and over. When I accelerate, the car will go but jerk. When driving, the car will have problems accelerating and then turn off. I replaced the starter not too long ago and the alternator along with the battery tested fine. I just had the tune up done the other day and the problem still exists? Can my battery wires be corroded inside? or is a problem with the timing belt? Does the fluctuation in RPM's indicate a problem with the air intake (or even a disproportionate ratio of oxygen to gas)?

Answer
Hi daniel:

I don't think it's a battery cable issue if that were the case the car would crank over slowly or not crank at all. I would suspect possably a mass air flow sensor is going bad. Any service engine soon lamp on? If so get the car scanned for codes and see what turns up I would think that would be your issue here the sensor is going bad. The other possability would be a restricted exhaust due to a catalitic converter being partailly pulled. It's rare for this model year to do that but I have seen it in newer model year grand Prix's. Good luck :)