thanks redliner...

it seems that there are several problems, that could be interconnected... the MAF operates, as when i disconnected it, the engine's speed surged, it stuttered a moment, and than it caught itself and kept on running (on the preset table of values, not the MAF supplied values, as the MAF was disconnected). this confirms that the MAF is working but does not rule out that the MAF might have an intermittent fault. the system registers the absence of the MAF, just as it is supposed to. I have cleaned out the MAF using the CRC MAF cleaner, but, from what i have heard on the grapevine, if the MAF is dying, the cleaning will only prolong the agony... I have located a Bosch MAF in Germany that I can get once it is deemed that my MAF is gone south...

from the cylinder numbering (thank you for the post) it seems that the CCV membrane was perforated on the side of cylinder #1, the passenger side of the car (mine is LHD), the one on the driver's side was intact, but the cylinder #5 is on the driver's side... it does not go with the initial theory that I had about the perforated CCV membrane and the misfiring #5 being in relation to each other.. it still does not rule out that the #5 is shorting out because of possible oil contamination of the spark plug cavity... Once the new coil arrives, I will venture into the engine bay again to replace the coil, evaluate the oil presense in the cavity and to clean up the throttle valve...

are there any special considerations for the throttle body cleaning? do I need to remove the valve throttle body from the engine and clean it off the car? in that case, I will need to get myself a gasket to be prepared for reinstall... if the throttle body can stay in place during cleaning, should i follow any special procedure for cleaning? I will be searching the forums for the info but if anyone knows the answers or has the links, it is much easier...

Thanks guys...