Air intake temperature sensor costs $2500 for a little laser!!!!!

[big red lemon]

Hi

Daughter's 1996 laser has intermittent missing. Mechanic (who saw her coming) told her that she needed a new air intake temperature sensor and that it would cost $2500.00 to fix. She has already spent $2000 on a second hand engine.

Is there any way that we can test the air intake temp sensor to see if that is what the problem really is? Where exactly in an engine is a AIT sensor? How hard would it be to replace? Remove engine?

Thanks for your help.

Mother of a big red lemon owner.