haef

Hey,
Just wanted to give you an update on the hesitation problem you were experiencing. As I said, my 99 2.8 was doing what sounded like the same thing. It started to misfire badly a couple of weeks later due to bad plug wires. I replaced them last night, its running perfect now, I didn't notice any hesitation and no misfires this morning, although it was much less pronounced when the engine and weather is cool, so the drive home tonight will be the true test I think. But this seems to have solved the problem.
One way to check that was offered to me was to get a spray bottle with just water, have the engine running and spray down the coil packs in the front of the engine. Try to get the engine compartment as dark as you can and if the plug wires are bad, you should see arcing from the wires to the top of the valve covers. Try not to do this if the engine is really hot and don't use too much water, but that was how I was able to figure out they needed replacing (at least 2 did, I ended up with a whole new set, its about $150).
Good luck!
-Steve