Sounds like your MAF could use a cleaning.
Just be careful and use a quality electrical contacts cleaner nothing with chlorine or methyl alcohol or similar.
I used brake cleaner and sprayed the wire sensor inside lightly. If that dosen't help you might need a new MAF
1996 2.5LT V6 Contour ATX
My Tour+help/info pics
E0 rims, Gutted Pre-Cats,CTA Custom Exhaust & Intake, Diablo Chip.