MAF Location and Cleaning

[renda10]

I have a 2002 4.0l Explorer Sport and i need to clean my MAF. I was wondering if anyone has any pictures of where i can find the sensor also what can i use to clean it?

 

[fixxxer]

The MAF is located in the air intake tube, between the air filter and the throttle body. CRC makes a cleaner especially for cleaning the MAF. Any good grade electronics parts cleaner should work, just make sure it is zero residue.

(picture is an example only, yours may look different)

 

[renda10]

so i just unscrew it and clean it? can i use break cleaner or wd-40?

 

[fixxxer]

Yes, no and no! Brake cleaner is too harsh, WD40 doesn't clean anything, it will leave an oily film on the MAF and either one of those could destroy the MAF sensor. The screws holding the MAF to the air tube are security Torx. As you can see in the pic, the center of the bit is hollow, that way it will slip over the center pin in the Torx screw.

 

[renda10]

is that a standerd bit or do i have to go out and buy one?

 

[fixxxer]

What is pictured is a standard tamper-proof Torx bit that you can use with a 1/4" socket or nutdriver. You can buy them in many styles; as a standard socket that will fit on a ratchet, with a screwdriver style handle, or as pictured. You can get an entire set of security Torx bits for about $10 US at almost any hardware or autoparts place. Those Torx bits are not usually a part of a generic socket set. This is what the screw holding your MAF in place looks like when it is removed:

 

[renda10]

soooo i clean the sensor.
how soon do i see the effects of cleaning it? i used to get my rpms going up and down all the time and sometimes the truck would stall.

 

[fixxxer]

When you perform the cleaning, disconnect the battery for at least 30 minutes, this will cause the computer to reset to the factory defaults. The truck may take an hour or two, or up to 100 miles to learn it's settings again, this time adjusting for the clean parts. The last time I reset mine, it took maybe 10 or 15 minutes to smooth out and idle normally.

 

[renda10]

how long should i leave the battery disconnected?

 

[fixxxer]

When you perform the cleaning, disconnect the battery for at least 30 minutes, this will cause the computer to reset to the factory defaults. The truck may take an hour or two, or up to 100 miles to learn it's settings again, this time adjusting for the clean parts. The last time I reset mine, it took maybe 10 or 15 minutes to smooth out and idle normally.

 

[renda10]

thanks bro. Is it ok that once i part the parts on i started the engin and reved it?

 

[fixxxer]

Yes, sometimes you just have to do that to keep it going.

 

[rileyrs]

ya reving it is fine, actually probly beter cuz it will force more air past the sensor. just drive it around normally, dont worry about the sensor, and soon enough it will be adjusted

 

[renda10]

i started another theard on this but its it ok if the housing has no screen on it. When i removed it there was nothing there it was open on both sides.

 

[renda10]

so i disconnected the battery and been driving for a day now and the CEL came back on and the truck is really rough on idle. I think i am going to try some seafoam. I am running out of ideas. It has a clean MAF sensor a new EGR valve, and two new front o2 sensors.

At idle the rmp going up and down likw crazy and the hear the engin go up and down.

 

[ramren16]

try cleaning your iac it has a tendancy to make the rpms to jump and while your at it might as well clean your throttle body a little

 

[renda10]

can anyone show me a picture of where my brake booster vacuume line is?

 

[renda10]

I got it guys. The guy at NAPA helped me with doing the seafoam. I got really no smoke coming out the back, and the guy said is because the engine most have been clean.

 

[ramren16]

ya when i did seafoam through the brakebooster and through the throttle body i got very little smoke i would still try cleaning the IAC(idle air control valve)

 

[renda10]

where is the IAC?