Doesn't the '96 have OBDII? You should have scanned it for codes...even if it did not throw a CEL it doesn't mean there is not a stored code that could have given you a clue as to what is wrong. I would think if it was the MAF it would have thrown a CEL, so I would strongly suspect that part was not the problem, but you might still see if you can scan it (autozone will loan you a scanner free) and see if there are any stored codes.

I never would throw a $250+ part at a problem unless I was 90%+ sure that would fix it...I'd sooner pay the dealer an hour's diagnostic time to actually find what's wrong before replacing an expensive part and not fixing it...

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz