Embarassing MAS experience

[sparkyputerguy]

Allright- I feel like a total dumb@ss!

This afternoon, I removed the negative battery cable, removed the MAS, cleaned it, re-connected the battery, started her up and let her run for 5 minutes before doing anything. I was hoping to resolve some sluggish acceleration and some pinging-type noises...

So my funny little honey and I went for a ride around the DC beltway and the truck was really sluggish (even more than before) and was really rough when accelerating and shifting. I was freaking out (internally), but not letting on that anything was terribly wrong. I was going through everything I did trying to figure out what I could have bumped or accidentally disconnected.

When we got to our destination, I popped the hood and saw that I had forgotten to reconnect the cable that goes to the MAS. D'oh!!!!

Note to self... always plug in what you disconnect Everything's fine now.

Anyone know why I didn't get a check-engine light? I would have thought that would have angered the 'puter!

 

[88vert]

Glad everything turned out Never let them see you sweat

 

[Robert]

Most DTCs require two successive error conditions (with a cold start in between) to set off the MIL. If you scan your codes, you should have a MAF failure in your "Pending" codes. After 40 non-fault runs, it will clear. Some DTCs will set off the MIL as soon as they happen. Apparently the MAF isn't one of them.

 

[Crankcase]

I left that connector off my MAS once while changing my air filter.

The X wouldn't idle for more than 15 seconds or so before stalling. I was like WTF is wrong? Then about a minute later I remembered the connector. I plugged it in, and drove away

It is always better if you know someone else has done it too, it makes you feel better

 

[TunnelFear]

aye, im part of this club too

 

[dejello]

Happened to me before, except I just didn't plug it in all the way... My light came on, same responses from the X...

 

[Rhett]

heh. I did that too once. (til now I never admitted that to anyone here though)

 

[97emerald]

As long as we are on the mas subject, has anybody ran into a mas they couldn't remove? Mine has a security torx on one screw, but the other one has what looks like a type of rivet. It is so hard that vice grips cant get a grip on it. Should it screw out also? I haven't seen any other references to a fastener like this when I did a search on it. Thanks.

 

[AMerrBauer]

did it improve your sluggishness that was originally there?

 

[sparkyputerguy]

Yeah- the X is a little more responsive on acceleration now. I've found that cleaning the MAS and resetting the computer every couple of months seems to keep things going well. Maybe it's a mental thing, but a lot of people here seem to do the same...

I would recommend it if you haven't tried it before- then let us know if you feel any improvement as well.

 

[SWLathrop]

Aahhh YUP...I'm in that club also on my 97 Sport. Ran like it was firing on 3 cylinders and the CEL came right on.

"97emerald"
Since you have a 97 like mine, you will find that you probably have 2 of your security torx screws filled with a black epoxy. Mine has the same thing. Couldn't get the epoxy off or grab them with anything either. I just sprayed a quality (Non-residue) contact cleaner thu the tube to clean mine. Has had no adverse effect.