How to: Clean the MAF Sensor

[mrorayus]

Pinging

This is just kind of a stab in the dark, but I noticed your explorer has a hell of a lot of miles on it.
On older vehicles, especially in areas where fuel quality is low, heavy carbon deposits will build up over time in the combustion chambers and on the pistons. The reason this is a problem is that the deposited carbon heats up very fast, to the point that it is red hot. When the fuel mixture is introduced to the combustion chamber, it is partially ignited by the red hot deposits, instead of by the spark plug, causing detonation. This may not be your problem, but I have witnessed its occurance before on my 68' stang several yers ago. It would ping no matter where I put the timing. (The steed had 300,000 mi on the old 289) One day I took the heads off because I blew a head gasket, and there was a rediculous amount of carbon built up in the combustion chambers and on the pistons. I scraped all that crap off (it wasnt easy) and when all back together it ran as good as a 300k engine could.

Best wishes.
Owen Ray

 

[Dave428]

PO102 code and MAF

96 Explorer wouldn't run today, symptoms were as expressed in other threads about rough idling. Had the code read and came up as PO102. Can someone cross that for me and tell me if it's without a doubt the MAF sensor? I just read the big thread about cleaning these, but I have on on order and don't want to go pick it up if that's not the problem.

Thanks,

 

[Dave428]

forgot to ask

Ohhh! I forgot to ask:

I've unplugged the MAF and at least the darn thing will run now, even though it's rough at times. I gotta go to work in the morning...........is it possible to drive it this way for the day? Have about 10 miles to go in each direction, what'cha think?

 

[dan swedish man]

best tip EVER!

i was almost stranded on the highway this weekend, thougt i had a bad computer onboard and was expecting high maintenence bills

then i looked around "explorerforum"....
did the MAF cleaning thing (with nail polish remover), reset the CPU and now it runs like new again!!!

thanks alot for charing valuable info guys - you rule!

 

[st5150]

Re: forgot to ask

Originally posted by Dave428
Ohhh! I forgot to ask:

I've unplugged the MAF and at least the darn thing will run now, even though it's rough at times. I gotta go to work in the morning...........is it possible to drive it this way for the day? Have about 10 miles to go in each direction, what'cha think?

You'll be fine. The EEC will be in "limp mode". You'll notice less throttle response and poor fuel economy, but that's about it. Don't worry about it at all.

 

[lo_jack]

Just wanted to say thanks for tip; cleaned the old MAF this weekend. On the way to dallas before cleaning: 20mpg. on the way back to san antonio after: 23 had more weight on the way down than i did on the way up.

I have been getting lackluster mpg on the highway for the past year, the 20 i got on the way up is actually higher than usual, i usually average about 18 highway and 14/13 street.

anyhow, thanks again ya'll

 

[2000waexplorer]

this says for 1990-1999, how about a 2000 4.0 SOHC would it apply to this motor?

 

[wildman]

I just did this to my 97 X and I also did it to my parent's 92 Crown Vic. It worked great for both of them. My parents have had problems with an engine noise ever since they got their car used. I cleaned the MAS and it runs great. They can even run the low grade gas without any problems. That is something they have not been able to do ever. Thanks guys.

 

[mike_2000]

I took off the MAF and found a perfectly clean, new looking MAF sensor. I have had my '91 explorer since it had 60K on it and it now had 155K and I have never cleaned it before. I guess I just got lucky. BTW the explorer was running fine I was just curious to see what the MAF sensor looked like inside.

 

[Cyclepsycho]

Cleaned that puppy on my 96 XLT with 90,000 miles on it a month ago.
The hesitation and lack of power problems went away and I got 23 mpg on a recent 1800 mile trip up to Canada.
Thanks for the info!

 

[tlivingd]

Originally posted by mike_2000
I took off the MAF and found a perfectly clean, new looking MAF sensor. I have had my '91 explorer since it had 60K on it and it now had 155K......

I cleaned mine today also looking spotless (132k miles) not sure if it was ever replaced... but it did improve idle quality and lower end torque.

(blasted some gumout carb cleaner on a q tip and carefully rubbed the wire sensors.)

nate

 

[skipc10]

I've got 115k on it and never even looked at it until yesterday while putting a new K&N air filter on. Never had a problem. Does the oil on the K&N filter eventual blow onto the sensor and crud it up?

It's behind the air filter, and ahead of the pcv, etc, so I would expect it never gets dirty....

Except maybe from this new filter which HAS greatly improved wide open throttle response

 

[Hank3rd]

What do I need to check the MAF. I think I may be having a problem with it. I am getting a choppy acceleration, sporatic sputtering and lose of power. I have tried cleaning the MAF and reset the computer.

I do not want to replace it if it is not the problem. What tools are required to check the MAF?

 

[jhlankford]

Denatured Alcohol was not at any drug store. But, I found one Pharmacist that was interested in finding it. At the local Wally World we found a quart can of it in the paint department! Go figure.
I cleaned the MAF, and reconnected the battery after 10+ minutes. MAN, did it make a difference! This is a great maintenance tip!
Thanks to all.
JL

 

[agoric875]

Hey guys,

I"ve been reading through this thread, and i'v like to do this also, if anyone has pictures of the MAF i'd appreciate it. Thanks.

 

[sirgeorge]

i tried this on my explorer and it didn't help it any. But i have a Taurus SHO that ran like crap. I replaced the TPS and both oxygen sensors and that didin't help. I read about this and tried it. All my problems were solved. Car runs like new again. I didn't have the bit to pull the screws out so I used vice grips

 

[The_Renegade]

How come everybody keeps talking about these Torx security screws holding the MAF down? My ex came with ordinary Phillips head screws holding it down and they looked as though they were original factory equipment, sealed all nice and threadlocked and stuff... Is there maybe a difference in manufacturing between Canadian and US vehicles?

Phil B.
1991 XL 4x4
Hella 500's, Trucklite 55w driving lights, 31x10.5x15 ETS Trail Masters, drilled airbox, pioneer 50x4 MOSFET cd, custom rear tire carrier, 1/4 tank of gas and no more money...

 

[entinnovations]

I just did this to my 97 X and I also did it to my parent's 92 Crown Vic. It worked great for both of them. My parents have had problems with an engine noise ever since they got their car used. I cleaned the MAS and it runs great. They can even run the low grade gas without any problems. That is something they have not been able to do ever. Thanks guys.

Wildman,

Can you tell a big difference with those three mods you have made on your SOHC? Those are the three I'm about to do, and I wanted to know if it will make a noticable difference? Thanks

Justin

 

[Tony H]

Anyone do this yet? What size torx?

 

[Tony H]

Disconnect Battery to reset??

I read Snap-On's Blow by Blow on this. I assume the computer scans this MAF often, Why do I need to reset The fuel mixture by disconnecting the battery? Wouldn't the Computer recheck the MAF and make the correction without disconnecting the battery.

P.S. My Filiments were help in with Regular Phillips Head Screws. Q-Tip and rubbing Alcohol...done in 5 minutes.