How to: Clean the MAF Sensor

[William Schumacher]

WOW !! what a difference...

I had trouble finding the correct size seurity torx tool,
so I said WTF....and drilled{carefully}the center pegs of the screw,now it's just a #20 torx screw.

I had cleaned the maf before,but never fully taking it out of the housing.

I used the radio-shack electronic cleaner,with a Q-tip.

also sent a full can of Amsoil power-foam intake cleaner into the throttle body.great stuff !

undid the neg cable for a half hour,hooked everything back up,let it idle for 20 minutes,watched all the carbon come out of the exaust {from the power foam},took it for a test run {semi-spirited}

very responsive.

 

[bates]

hey keith, did ur x have ne trouble starting or idling with all that amsoil cleaner in it? what did you do just shoot it straight into the tb? i think i might try that myself!

 

[William Schumacher]

bates...

Keith started the thread....I'm not him.
anyway,

no problem's at all,the trick is to let it idle,and send the entire contents of the Amsoil power foam can into the T/B,at times it wanted to stall,but I gently opened up the butterfly...wich brought in just enough air to keep it going while the foam went through the system,when the can is empty,shut down the motor and let it sit for a 1/2 hour before starting it up !.

 

[IgotTwo]

Thanks for sharing the email and other fine tips

For what it's worth:
I used a light metal lathe to fabricate the special torx......Centering the recess was my concern. It came out pretty...excuse me!!!....... damn pretty!!!!

 

[mrorayus]

Speaking of MAF's, I have got this obnoxious howling coming from that stupid plastic can that houses the MAF (95-98 w/conical filter) and i cant seem to get rid of it. Its really pissing me off. Can I take the can off of the MAF and make a custom intake tube without adversly effecting performance or setting off check eng lights?

 

[Lemondrop]

Originally posted by mrorayus
Speaking of MAF's, I have got this obnoxious howling coming from that stupid plastic can that houses the MAF (95-98 w/conical filter) and i cant seem to get rid of it. Its really pissing me off. Can I take the can off of the MAF and make a custom intake tube without adversly effecting performance or setting off check eng lights?

It's not the air filter housing

I thought mine was doing the same thing and I tore the thing apart and checked everything . Nothing was wrong so I assumed the screen was loose and rattling . I bent the screen a little to put a bow in it so it wouldnt rattle . Still made the loud humming noise .
Someone said it might be the air filter on the Idle Air Control motor (on the side of your throttle body *looks like a beer can mounted sideways) ..It has a little black plastic cap and the cap is the air filter . When it becomes plugged for some reason the entire mess starts humming at idle . Mine got even worse once it idled for a few minutes and the engine compartment got real hot .
Pull the black cap real hard and it will pop off . You will think you busted it but it's the glue they attach it with breaking loose . Once you get it off , spray brake cleaner (or anything that won't damage plastic real easy) into the CENTER of the cap . You will need the little red extension that come with the can of brake cleaner to be able to spray down in it . You will see the dirt flow out of the outer edges of the filter . Continue flushing till the dirt runs clear . If you can blow air through the hole once it's clean it will speed up drying out the cleaner . If not let it dry a second then put it back on the IAC motor , just shove it back on . Fire the engine and let it idle ..... the hum will be gone . Of course you could replace the IAC itself .. mine was replaced and 10 months later it was making noise .
Ive thought about making a new filter out of tubing and a fuel filter (paper type) but never got around to it .

 

[wacnstac]

Here's what you do to bypass the pesky torx heads. Take you Dremel tool and put a small cutting wheel on it. Grind a slot in each torx head. Now use flat head screwdriver to remove and reinstall. Worked great for me.

 

[mrorayus]

nice detective work on that humming sound. I will go give that a shot. Thank you so much!!

 

[mrorayus]

Wow. That did the trick. Thanks once again

 

[andypinto]

Thanks for the tip!

I get those security Torx (called StarKey) screwdrivers and do the job.

The engine "hesitation" just gone and now runs like new. Clean the MAF sensor is easy, but you must be very careful because the filaments looks so fragil.
The best way to clean it, I think, is with a cotton tip embedded with O2 safe carburetor fluid.
DON'T SPRAY DIRECTLY ON THE FILAMENTS, because the high pressure stream can broke it.

Do the job, guys, and you see the difference.

Andy

 

[Cdn Soldier]

You don't have to take it off the MAF neck. Just spray it with carb cleaner. If you change it you get the MAF senser and neck. The paint and wax is for your warrantie. If you brake it your screwed so leave it in the neck. Also let it dry and done start it until it is.

 

[tkauf]

You are right on about the MAF sensor. My 94 was pinging and the check engine light was on a lot especially under acceleration. I cleaned it and reset the computer by disconnecting the battery; has not come on since. I used contact spray cleaner from NAPA it worked great; this is a five minute job.

 

[Erievon]

Since the subject came up, any idea why Ford used two different air filter set ups? I'm speaking about the conical and the flat filter. I have the flat one...97 Sport SOHC 4x2. I wonder how they dictated which one went in the truck, and if there is any advantage to one or the other?

Al Omahen

 

[phat97exp]

Im hoping to god this is the answer to all my problems, because my check engine light has been on forever and a day, and I got a test dont and they said it was the O2 sensors, but I never got around to changing them. To bad I forgot the code BUt hopefully this will work!

 

[Derekjeterkid2]

how the heck do i get the battery cable off

i cant get to it so i can unscrew the bolts cuz theres some plastic thing in the way, any ideas?

 

[Derekjeterkid2]

how do you know the code where does it display it?

 

[Derekjeterkid2]

grrr

cant find the right size not at home depo not sears its a size 18 right for a 94 X plus dont they have to have a hole in the middle?

 

[jgilbs]

part

its a T20 Security Torx bit available at partsexpress.com just do a search for "security torx", cost me <$4

 

[boatrider]

Howeling Noise

That howeling noise may be from you IAC (IdleAirController) not your MAF. If the sound is present during idle and goes away after acceleration, I would suspect IAC, not MAF. Just my opinion...

 

[blackcrowe]

Originally posted by SGF
The alcohols are not the same. You can typically find denatured alcohol in drug stores. The first time I ever bought it I search the store for about 15 min. with no success. I finally walked up to where the druggist was and told him I couldn't find it. He gave it to me from being the counter. When he saw my puzzled look he laughed and explained that they control it because some folks drink it!

I still have pining in spite of cleaning the sensor. It's very frustrating since I like this vehicle in every other way. I'm not sure mine will ever go away with 167,000 on the odometer. Nothing has worked so far although I've followed every tipo I've read.

I HEAR YA!! ive also done everything under the sun, still pinging!!!