Engine fail safe mode is on please help?

[05explorerXLT]

The explorer has been idling rough for the last few months so I decided today to check and gap the old spark plugs. I also cleaned the MAF sensor, and now the explorer idles rough/sputters and displays ENGINE FAIL SAFE MODE. Any ideas why this happened and how do I clear the ENGINE FAIL SAFE default? I also took the throttle body actuator apart to clean it and I think this may be the problem. After pulling the actuator cover off a spring came uncoiled and popped out and now I don't think I'm getting the spring tight enough when trying to put the actuator cover back on. Looks like I may be buying a new throttle body for a dumb mistake. Any ideas? I have an 05 XLT 4.0L

 

[High_Order1]

you need to get a voltmeter and test how much change in resistance you're getting across two of those (IIRC three) terminals. I'm sorry that its' been so long, but I seem to think you don't have to buy an entire TB to just fix that one part.

Get the codes pulled by something that has Ford - specific PID's. That will tell you a LOT about what to do next. A generic code tool may not be able to tell you.

 

[05explorerXLT]

you need to get a voltmeter and test how much change in resistance you're getting across two of those (IIRC three) terminals. I'm sorry that its' been so long, but I seem to think you don't have to buy an entire TB to just fix that one part.

Get the codes pulled by something that has Ford - specific PID's. That will tell you a LOT about what to do next. A generic code tool may not be able to tell you.

I'm not sure how the plastic gears were aligned in the TB actuator and how tight the spring was coiled. Now the truck just sputter and goes into the limp mode as described earlier. I have tried placing the spring in it but still getting the sputter. I probably damaged the MAF sensor when I sprayed it down with carb cleaner.