Well, here's the story: as soon as I got my 96 Jetta Trek, it was running bad and I was getting headaches. So I brought it to my local automotive shop and it seems like a lot of stuff has to be replaced. He replaced spark plugs, cap, wires, new vac lines, fuel fliter, and tomorrow when they get it, a new cat converter an O2 sensor. Now this car had no power before I had it brought in. How much of a differerence will all of this make? Thank god we found out the cat converter was bad because it was clogging exhaust flow and causing headaches due to carbon monoxide. Also, it is spitting little amounts of oil into the air filter. He said the MAF will need to be replaced soon. Can I replace this myself?

Well, here's the story: as soon as I got my 96 Jetta Trek, it was running bad and I was getting headaches. So I brought it to my local automotive shop and it seems like a lot of stuff has to be replaced. He replaced spark plugs, cap, wires, new vac lines, fuel fliter, and tomorrow when they get it, a new cat converter an O2 sensor. Now this car had no power before I had it brought in. How much of a differerence will all of this make? Thank god we found out the cat converter was bad because it was clogging exhaust flow and causing headaches due to carbon monoxide. Also, it is spitting little amounts of oil into the air filter. He said the MAF will need to be replaced soon. Can I replace this myself?

Clean the MAF. Do a search here on how to do it. Also clean out the little black valve thats attached to the valve cover. It a round black thing with two hoses coming out of it. This is causing the oil to spit into the air intake. Take it off and spray down the insides. It you feel you need a new one they have them at impex foreign auto parts (Do a web search for the site.) It is called a pressure regualtor. If you feel you still need a MAF they also have a rebuilt one for $75. Its very easy to take off to clean or change. It is the first thing with wires coming out of it just behind the airbox.

OK. To make this much easier for me, can you tell me what parts need to be cleaned, where they are, how to get them off, how to clean them, and what kind of cleaner. I want this car to last me a while.

I dont mean to be mean, but you need to get a bentley's manual to get detailed instructions on how to take things off. Manuals have diagrams. Its a lot to type to give you directions on where the parts are and how to take them off. For instructions on cleaning each items search this site. Try searching on "Cleaning MAF". You can also search the web. MAF's on most cars are the same. Basically once you unscrew it from the airbox you can just spray the contacts down with electrical contact cleaner. (Dont touch the contacts with anything). To clean the pressure regulator valve pop it off the valve cover and separate the two tubes coming off it. Then clean it out by spraying insides with carb or choke cleaner. You may want to replace it. Its like 60 dollars at Impex.

Thank you for your help. It is useful to me. See, I know a lot about Toyotas but NOTHING about VWs. LOL.