Toyota Repair: Corolla Check Engine light, mass air flow sensor, air flow sensor

Question
2000 Corolla CE 97560 miles.  The check engine light has been on for almost a year.  We went to Autozone and the code was P0171 bank1.  We bought platinum spark plugs and put them on.(even though it said to use irridium plugs).  Few days later the light came back on and it also sputters/misfires/hesitates acts like it will die. I went back to Autozone had them check the code and it now reads two P0171 codes. I also bought the irridium plugs.  Will that repair the problem?  HELP!!!!

Answer
P0171 is when the Air fuel sensor in the exhaust reads lean and is constantly trying to correct it.

You should have the code and freeze frame data printed out.
Look at the freeze frame data. Thats the data stored at the moment the light came on and code was stored.
If the Long term fuel trim number is high (over 10).
Then you need a Mass air flow sensor. Located in the intake near the airbox. 2 screws hold it in.
About 100-125 bucks last time I checked.

Mike