P0103 + P061B Error Codes

[Abed]

Hello everyone.
I have a 2007 ford explorer v6 that has been driving me crazy lately. The car has only 64k miles on it and was working great until recently.
About a week ago, I was cruising in the city at 20-30mph when the car's steering wheel suddenly becomes extremely hard to steer, the gas pedal is not responsive anymore, as well as the check engine light alongside the oil pressure warning light come up all of a sudden. I turned the car off a couple of times until the gas pedal is functional again and park the car in the nearest parking space available. I scanned it with a basic OBD2 scanner at home and it gave me the error code "P061B"
I read about it online, people said it probably is the air filter. So, I go and replace the thing. I went today to take it for a test drive but after 5-10 mins the car starts to stall REALLY BAD. So I knew the issue isn't solved and the same scenario of locking the steering wheel, lights, etc.... repeats itself. However, this time I got a new fault code on the scanner "P0103 mass or air volume circuit high"
I am sorry you had to read and go through the details, but I am really worried about it and would like to see if you guys had any idea about the subject.
Yeah, and also, the car is really consuming a TON of fuel since this started to happen.

 

[Abed]

Update: I just plugged the Scanner back on, no error codes are there whatsoever!

 

[Rcflyer330]

A common problem is cracking insulation on wires going to the maf, throttle body, and other places in the engine compartment they eventually short out aganst each other. Start but checking the harness for bare wires and make sure you peel back the casting a few inches and check there too.

 

[Abed]

A common problem is cracking insulation on wires going to the maf, throttle body, and other places in the engine compartment they eventually short out aganst each other. Start but checking the harness for bare wires and make sure you peel back the casting a few inches and check there too.

Hi, thank you for helping in this matter. I just went and checked all the wiring and they all seem to be intact. No tearing, everything is covered up.

 

[Rcflyer330]

Can your scanner read live data? If so check the reading for the mass airflow sensor. The two code you got make me think you have a problem with the mass airflow sensor. When you checked the wires did you peal back the protective covering? If you just checked the short exposed wires its still possible you have a short. Take a look at this forum
Ghost in the Machine

 

[Abed]

Can your scanner read live data? If so check the reading for the mass airflow sensor. The two code you got make me think you have a problem with the mass airflow sensor. When you checked the wires did you peal back the protective covering? If you just checked the short exposed wires its still possible you have a short. Take a look at this forum
Ghost in the Machine

Well, I just took a general look on what's showing of the cables. I will recheck the wirings.
Regarding the live data, what should I be looking for in the readings?

 

[Rcflyer330]

My car reads .90 lb/sec at idle and about 2.00 lb/s at 2k rpm or if it reads in g/sec about 4.7 at idle and about 13 at 2k (i tested in park and 76° f outside temp if that makes a deference). But it should rise with rpm.

 

[Abed]

My car reads .90 lb/sec at idle and about 2.00 lb/s at 2k rpm or if it reads in g/sec about 4.7 at idle and about 13 at 2k (i tested in park and 76° f outside temp if that makes a deference). But it should rise with rpm.

Hi
I had the following readings while the car is parked at idle:
Imgur

Then I revved it up and held it at 2000 RRMs:
Imgur

Can you please check if my readings are normal?
I removed the MAF sensor carefully and it seemed really clean so I don't know whats wrong. Also, when I put it back on and inserted the key in the ignition a "P0113" code appeared while the 2 previous codes are not visible!
*Please note that the weather here is much hotter than yours ( was 35C when i recorded)

 

[Rcflyer330]

Here is what I am thinking all of the codes have two things similar things that could cause them the mass airflow sensor or the pcm. I am still thinking there is a shorted wire or loose connection or its the mass airflow sensor. Why I think its a shorted wire is when you moved the mass airflow sensor a new code came up. lets try and recreate at least one of the codes first try running the car and wiggling wires for the mass airflow sensor, throttle body, and any other connector you can easily get to. Please be careful of the moving parts while the car is running. see if any codes comes up. if nothing comes up shut the car off and unplug the mass airflow sensor and check for codes (you may not even have to start the car just turn it to the run position) if you get a code that matches one you have already found then we are on the right track.

 

[Abed]

Hi
I went to my local mechanic and he said the alternator should be changed. I did that, and guess what, no codes whatsoever and the car runs smoothly!
The only problem is the dashboard because it resets itself every time the car is turned off and back on ( I can't get an accurate reading of fuel consumption)

 

[Rcflyer330]

Well I will admit I would have never thought the problem would be caused by the alternator. Glad that worked.

 

[Abed]

yeah thank you so much for the help. I was on a highway today and i got a red battery figure on the small screen on the dashboard. I pressed the reset button and it was gone. Why would something like this happen?

 

[Rcflyer330]

Well that would be something to do with either your battery or charging system. You replaced your alternator so it's not likely to be that it could be your battery. Has your car been hard to start or slow cranking?

If you have a multimeter test the battery voltage after the car has sat a while it should be 12.3v or higher. You could also test the voltage drop while cranking by having another person start the car while you look at the meter and that should not drop under 10v on a good battery. while you're at it check the charging system voltage with the car is running voltage should be over 13.5v and no higher than 15v it's usually around 14v.

The other thing you could do is ignore it for now and see if it happens again then you know there actually a problem. I have had that happen once or twice where a light or code would come up I reset them and they never came back.