MAF sensor confusion. Rough idle, low power, is it MAF?

I'm not much of a mechanic, so thanks for all the advice here.

1996 2.4 with 5 speed used to get 23 MPG, now it only gets 21 MPG and the steering wheel shakes with a rough idle, and I have much less power when taking off from a stop.

I changed air filer, fuel filter, and used Royal Purple injector cleaner hoping that would fix it, but there's been no change. The stock Denso copper plugs only have 25,000 miles, so I don't think that's what's causing the low MPG and shaking. Also, the cap & rotor and plug wires are only a year old.

I'm going to change the spark plugs & spray the MAF sensor this weekend, and If I still have low MPG, low power, and shaking idle I've been told that could be a "bad MAF" and that's where my knowledge ends - never messed with replacing one so I have a few questions:

1) I found generic MAF sensors for $40 on Amazon, are those any good?

2) You can buy just the sensor that goes on the top of the housing, or you can buy the entire housing with the sensor included for $90. Should you buy the entire housing instead of just the sensor by itself?

3) Is the MAF sensor just "bolt it on and go?" You just clip the new sensor on the wires and that's it? No other recalibrations or adjustments?

4) Anyone got a good source and a good price on a new MAF?

Thanks for all the help.

 

Supposedly, if you remove the connector to the MAF with the engine running and it shuts off, the MAF is good. If the engine continues to run, it’s faulty. My engine shut off. I got a check engine light after performing this test, but a reset of the ECU cleared it.

 

May just need a cleaning with a can of CRC maf cleaner. Gunked up throttle body and IAC could be culprit. Plenty of info on here with a little searching. Wouldn’t assume it’s the maf without testing it and checking other intake stuff.