ford escort stutter?

my 95 escort wagon drives fine at easy throttle but upon acceleration in a higher gear it bucks and stutters, feeling aslmost as if the ignition was kicking in and out or a couple of cylinders were dying/sstarving. I doubt it is fuel filter because it drives fine in a lower gear full throttle but higher gears where torque is applied creates the situation. Check engine lite periodically comes on.

gary k
November 2006