airvolume intake sensor

My service engine light is ON. Recent visit to saturn and they wanted to put in a new Air Volume Intake Sensor (?) @ $180. Car is running poorly now. Often hesitates at high speeds when trying to accelerate. Has been regular occurance. Now, car is often hard to start, sometimes very hard to start!!! Scarry. Car also hesitates after cold start and easy acceleration.

What is this sensor? Where is it? Can I change it myself (I can do minor engine work). Does this sound like my problem? Mahalo.

Car is running poorly now. Often hesitates at high speeds when trying to accelerate. Has been regular occurance. Now, car is often hard to start, sometimes very hard to start!!! Scarry. Car also hesitates after cold start and easy acceleration.

sounds very much like the "airvolume intake sensor", there is two types.

i know nothing of the L-series engine, but i'm assuming it uses a MAF(mass air flow sensor). it, along with the intake air temp sensor, tells the computer exactly how much air is entering the engine. its somewhere inside the intake tubeing. it has a little resistor inside, on some makes and models, crud can build up on it. cleaning may help, but i doubt it just being dirty would throw a code. of that $180, i bet most of it is parts.

the other type is a MAP(manifold air pressure), i know these are on the S-seires for a fact. its a box shaped sensor on the intake manifold.

i don't know if saturn just read the code or accuitly got under the hood to check, but there is a small chance the wires got disconnected somehow. i think it has three wires connected to it.