Yes, '01 has three coil packs, as does my '02...

I notice my 3.8L gets pretty hot under hood when driving it hard -- which surely helps the coil pack heat none. Seems like a great idea to get a heat-extractor hood!!!

Something like this:


http://mechamperformance.com/d_docs/p_g4f.html

 

I think I solved it! I installed some new spark plug wires. On the drive to and from work... the car drove juuuust fine! The MSD wires I took off had some scratches and wear and tear... AND... a HUGE burn on on the boot of the number 4 cylinder. Looks like it burnt all the way through. That's because of the way the Pacesetter headers are in the way. UGH! So I'm going to go to a local hotrod shop tomorrow and get 2 custom wires that are angled so they don't have to touch the exhaust headers. Hopefully it wont happen again after that. And hopefully my problem is fixed and not just sleeping

Thanks everybody for your help and input!

 

damn that hoods sick lol i was reading thru this thread and was thinking either bad gas or if you had headers looks like you beat me to it