I'm posting this in case it helps someone else.

My 1996 Cavalier LS 2.4L (manual transmission) had been hesitating-- especially when accelerating from lower RPMs. Otherwise is idled fine and ran fine. (Though I would say that it seemed to hesitate to start when I'd turn on the ignition.) My local repair shop and my local parts store told me to replace the fuel filter (and they both told me that it was easy enough that I could do it myself, even though I've never done this job before). I did so, and it solved the problem. Runs fine now. The fuel filter was $10.49 at my local parts store.

Here's how I replaced the fuel filter. I'm NOT recommending that you follow my method. Changing the fuel filter involves working with gasoline and could be very dangerous and result in injury. I assume no liability if you do what I did.

On the 1996 Cavalier 2.4L, the fuel filter is very easily accessible without raising up the car. It's under the car, just in front of the gas tank, and very easy to see. According to the Chilton's manual, you're supposed to take the cap off the gas tank, pull the fuse for the fuel pump and run the car until it stalls so that you drain the gas from the fuel line. Then you're supposed to try to start the car to make sure that the gas is drained. Then pull the battery cable for safety. (Apparently you don't have to drain the gasoline from the fuel tank because the gasoline doesn't siphon out of the tank after you remove the in-one fuel filter.) I figured that running the engine to bleed the fuel line was going overboard and so didn't do that. (And I even forgot to remove the gas cap.) Consequently, when I released the "quick" connector, the slightly-pressurized, gas-filled line momentarily sprayed gasoline, including spraying gasoline into my face and eyes, and then poured about a half-cup of gasoline onto my garage floor. Not good. Overall though, I'm not sure that I'd go through the hassle of pulling the fuse and running the fuel line dry next time. I might just put a pan down, wrap a rag around it, and wear some goggles, though that would incur the risk of getting gasoline on on my body, floor, and car, which could be dangerous-- especially if it were to catch fire. I definitely don't recommend doing it the dangerous way that I did it.

Anyway, the fuel filter has a "quick" release connector on one end that you're supposed to disconnect first. The hardest, most time-consuming part of the job, by far, was (ironically) figuring out how to release that "quick" release. (It might have been easier if I had depressurized the line. I'm not sure.) Basically, I ended up using a crescent wrench as a "C" shaped prying tool (not as a wrench) to detach the quick release. I put the crescent in between the filter and the quick connector while pushing the fuel line towards the filter and prying the wrench back away from the filter (and towards the quick connector). When it finally popped loose it momentarily sprayed me with gasoline and then that line poured gasoline onto the floor-- maybe about a half-cup of gasoline.

Then using two adjustable wrenches (I think 21mm & 16mm crescent wrenches would be the appropriate tools), I removed the other end of the fuel filter. One needs to use two wrenches or risk damaging the fuel line. The nut on the fuel line spins but the one on the fuel filter is fixed, but I could actually turn either one.

Then I cleaned off both ends of the fuel lines and lubricated the quick-connect end of the fuel filter with some motor oil (per the recommendation of the Chilton's guide). I then reconnected the fuel filter in reverse order of the above procedure. Note that the new fuel filter came with a slip-on plastic "quick-connector but it didn't seem to fit or be useful for my Cavalier. I guess it's for use with other car models so I didn't use it.

Of course when I first started the car, it took a while to crank and get gasoline to the engine. But once it started up, I took it for a test drive and it ran fine. No hesitation. When I came back from the test drive, I checked to make sure that gasoline wasn't leaking from the fuel filter connectors. It wasn't.

It was such an easy, cheap solution. I'm so happy that solved the hesitation problem. It took me about 30 minutes to change the fuel filter, but about 20 minutes of that was figuring out how to release the quick-connector. I think I could do the job again in about 10 minutes.

There are fuel line disconnect tools for this by the way

Just pull the relay start the car and it will stall 2 seconds later. when it's all assemble turn the key on a couple of times for the fuel pump to prime the lines and start the car let it idle for 30 seconds just to be safe then go for a drive.

Great tips folks! Thanks! Next time I'll do it right and pull the relay. I'm not sure that I'll buy a special tool to disconnect the fuel line. The Chilton's guide said that such tools existed but I didn't bother to check pricing since the guy at the auto parts store said I could disconnect it without the tool.) If the tool only costs a couple bucks it would probably be worthwhile.