98 SOHC 4x4 115K miles Just purchased.
I have the typical erratic cold idle. No CEL's. Checked volts and ohms on IAC-everything good. Cleaned twice. No help. Then decided (by this forum) it could be the o-rings in the lower intake. Called Ford and this fix (M0012) wasn't done on my vehicle. Also checked volts and ohms on MAF and everything good. Cleaned MAF also. Before trying to change o-rings, tried starting truck (when cold) with MAF disconnected. Idle pretty good. Much better than with it connected. After it warms up a little (2 minutes), it wants to die out - which I'm not concerned with right now. My question - with MAF disconnected and good idle, does this mean MAF is bad? Or, is the MAF disconnection masking a leak on the o-rings? I want to get ideas before throwing money at the MAF sensors. I want to fix this but if I don't have any luck, will it hurt the truck leaving the MAF disconnected? I get 3 codes. 2 are for the MAF inputs and one code that said bank2 lean condition. Any help would be greatly appreaciated.

Check your 02 sensors.

like he said, check the o2 sensors. they won't give you a CEL code if they're bad. your MAF would have produced a CEL code before you disconnected it if it was bad.

I should've added that I do not get a CEL if the MAF is plugged in. The 1st time I had the CEL for lean condition was when the MAF was unplugged so I figured that is what caused me to get that code. Do you still think it's the o2 sensors?

Yes it's a possibility.

Ive never tested a 02 sesor, but you can test them and it's not difficult at all.

I have been told the O2 sensors are located on the first portion of the exhaust pipes, not far from the manifold connection. Some say they are two, but I have taken a look and think they are four. Could someone confirm how many are them and if possible post the procedure to test them?

Thanks

Luis

Yes, there are four total. But the first two are the ones you should be looking at. I believe the last two sensors are dummy sensors of sorts.