What should the gap be for the plugs on a 97 Saab misfiring?

Electrical contact cleaner is not good for map or maf sensors. There is a special cleaner for this however I have never actually had any luck with the cleaners. It very well could be the sensor going bad. Not being familiar with your car I can say I had the exact same issue with a 97 mercury cougar and it was the sensor. I would double check the plug making sure the gap is correct and it is not cracked, check the wire (swap to another cylinder if you can and see if the error code swaps as well), check the coil pack as well.

www.ask.com/97saab900radio/error-message-1234/
www.wikipedia.org/ same as above

When you raise your hood find the distributor follow the wires. should lead you to a cover with 4 or 6 screw will need a star screw driver to remove under that cover are your spark plugs.

Some Saabs lock the gearlever in reverse as a security measure, and won't let you take the key out until reverse is selected.

Hi, my first recommendation would be to take the plugs out and visually inspect each one and check to make sure they are properly gapped, if they look fouled at all i would replace them without hesitation. try throwing a set of NGK plugs in the car to fix the misfires. other than that you may want to look at the wires. good luck joe

Since it does eventually start and run, hard starting is usually a fuel delivery problem (pressure regulator, fuel filter, fuel pump, kinked fuel line). First check the fuel pressure after turning the key on but not starting the car.

GAP= 0.024"

In order of failure rate you should check:
1) DIC (the red module sitting between the cam banks). This may or may not throw a code (random misfire or a specific cylinder misfire). The easiest way to check this is to simply swap in a known good DIC and see if this fixes the problem. You should also check your plugs at this point and ensure that they are gapped no larger than 1 mm, as overgapped plugs are the primary cause of DIC filures..
2) CPS (crankshaft position sensor) located on the right front lower corner of the engine block. This should throw a code, but may not. I do not have access currently to the electrical specs you should be able to read with a multimeter;
3) Fuel pump and fuel pump relay. To check this, remove the IAT sensor in the throttle body transition casting and spray starter fluid into the throttle body. Replace the sensor finger tight and crank the car. If it starts and runs until the starter fluid is gone, you probably have a pump or relay issue. Raise the rear seat and hammer on the top of the tank next to the fuel pump assembly with a large rubber mallet and then try to start the car. If it starts and runs, your pump is probably failing. Check the relay under the dash regardless to ensure that it is working. You should be able to hear the pump run when you turn the key to the on position, especially with the rear seat up.
Good luck.

Fixed it myself. I checked power and ground on fuel pump, then w/rubber mallet I banged the fuel tank and the fuel pump went on for a few seconds while someone cranked car, it started for arou 20 -30 seconds. This helped me diagn. the problem and I put in a new fuel assembly.\

Cfirms

could be the spark plugs not gapped enough.if they are gap less than indicated then u will noticed when going at higher speed.