2001 Mazda Protege ES Problems?

[Ashley]

I have a 2001 Mazda Protege ES with just under 100,000 miles on it. The only problems I have had with the car started around a year ago when I had a vacuum leak, so I took it and had it fixed. But a few days later, the check engine light came back on and the car kept on doing about the same things. It would hesitate, it was idling higher than usual, it starts rough, and the check engine light will come on and flash, then stay on, then go off for a couple days and repeat. It also goes through a stage to where it won't start at first, but then a few hours later when you try it, it starts just fine. Also, we think it may have another vacuum leak that was missed. My husband was on his way to work and he turned on the cruise control, when he did, it started hesitating like it was going to die, so he turned it off and it was just fine. Not sure if that would have anything to do with the other things that are going on or not. ANY advice welcome.