Ok it seems everyone doesn't know much about the maf sensors and the problems they pose when they are dirty. Most of them are simple to get to. The cone filter will require the airbox be seperated to get them out. This sounds hard but really isnt.
For cone filter maf cleaning
Remove the entire upper airbox with the MAF still inside it.
Pull back the rubber boot and use a small screwdriver to release the MAF connector.
Remove the short wiring harness.
Remove the entire end off the box(they usually pull out very easily).
You will need a tamper proof torx socket I believe t-25.
the factory put glue on one of the bolts in most cases.
You will have to remove that bolt with a small pair of vice grips.
Then take that bolt and heat it up with a torch until the glue or whatever it is burns out.
While it is cooling remove the other bolt and use an alcohol prep pad to wipe the wires very clean.
Make sure you don't leave any lint or fibers on the maf as they will confuse readings.
This will improve your lost gas mileage and make the truck run considerably better.
If you use a K&N filter you need to do this often. With a paper filter do it any time you change the filter.
Alan

 

Let me add to your post and make it more complete.
For those who are into electronics;
The meter electronics is an electrical bridge circuit.
A 4 lead device that is suppled about 5 volts DC from the computer built-in supply.
The 4 legs of the bridge are all equal in resistance when powered up except for one leg that is a hot wire.
As air flow cools the hot wire. the bridge goes out of balance and presents an increasing voltage across the other two output leads back to the computer.
This increasing voltage is translated through the program to widen the injector pulse-width for more fuel as well as changes the ignition timing and rate of change versus rpm.
Anything that chamges the hot wire cooling will change the output to the computer.
Even an air direction change from a different filter design, being so close to the air meter, can change it's output vs airflow.

 

Hi Dirtyd0g,

I am currently cleaning my MAF sensor by spraying electrical contact cleaner on the wire elements visible in the air intake box.

Is the procedure you're describing here cleaning another sensor in this air box? If so, is there a way I can use the contact cleaner to "spray off" the oil film from my K&N filter?

thanks

ihilani

 

I have found the way I described to work best for me. I believe we are talking about the same piece here. If you are talking about any other sensors the only one I can think of is the IAT and I have never had to clean one of those.
Alan

 

Can you use a q-tip soaked in rubbing alcohol to clean it?

 

Yes but an alcohol prep pad has less lint. Make sure you don't leave any fibers on it