I know this is a stupid question but . . . how do I get as the MAF sensor and where is it located?

When I look under my hood all I see is a maze of wires and a whole bunch of stuff that looks like it could be a sensor of some type.

Is it the sensor behind the air filter compartment that attaches to the underside of the air intake tube? If this is the one, I can't seem to get at the actual sensor . . . just the plug. How does it come out?

Thanks in advance

- Coug

 

You need to state what kind of engine you have since there are two different procedures. One for 5.8L & 7.5L engines and another for 4.2L, 4.6L, 5.4L & 6.8L engines. At least according to my Chilton's manual. Also you might want to try www.myfseries.fordvehicles.com. I received an invite to this site but there is a registration procedure if you're a ford owner. Best thing is that there is a link to shop manuals that you might want to check out.

Jerry

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’97 F-150 4x4 SuperCab XLT Flareside; 4.6L EFI; 4-Spd Auto Trans; Firestone P235/70R16; Pacific Green Clearcoat Metallic; Preferred Equipment Package 507A; Min Payload Package; 3.55 Regular Axle; Electric Shift (4x4); Trailer package; 4-wheel ABS; Cloth Captain’s Chairs; Remote K/Less Entry/Anti Theft; Muth Signal Mirrors; Westin Chrome Step Bars; Specialty Covers Truck Bed Cover W/Remote; Performed Airbox Mod & K&N Filter.

 

Coug, You are in the right neighborhood. I can only give you vague description, but if you split the airbox and remove the side closest to the intake tube, you will see the Maf filament and I think another sensor looking item. Again, sorry if this vague. Regards, Roden

 

Sorry F15097, I've got a 4.6L in my 97.

Roden if I understand you correctly, break apart the box like you were changing the air filter and detach the side closest to the intake? (not the filter side)

 

Cougar Guy, all you gotta do is loosen the clamp holding the two halves of the airfilter housing together. Split the housing in two and move the part still attached to the engine intake to the side (towards the rear). Look inside the hole and you'll see the MAF. Looks like a bare coiled lamp filament in a black plastic mount.

 

Someone just informed me that cleaning the MAF with a cotton swab and some windex has eliminated pinging, at least for him.

Anyone want to confirm?

 

Thanks Dennis . . . that sounds pretty sraight forward.

Crash1, I wanted to clean it because of other posters who noticed excessive pinging which seemed to be helped by cleaning the MAF sensor. It seemed to be especially noticeable on those of us with K&N Filters . . . some of the oil possibly interfering with the sensor.

Anyway, I'll ckeck it out this weekend and post something back. Thanks for all the responses !

 

Why do you want to clean the MAF? Do you have drivability problems?

This is generally not an acceptable practice. The MAF is a very sensitive sensor, and is very expensive to replace. Harsh chemicals may damage the sensor.

When looking into the sensor itself, it may appear there is some trash in the body, but the element itself is designed to stay clean.



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Rinker, I learned about the MAF procedure on this board and it definitely works. There was most definitely crud on the sensors. One thing that can't be stressed enough is that this cleaning has to be done very carefully. Do not spray the MAF directly with the Windex. Soak the cotton swab. Let us know how you make out. By the way, are you a K+N user? Good Luck.

[This message has been edited by roden (edited 11-02-2000).]

 

Et all, I recently sent Mike Troyer of Superchips an email in which I mentioned that since owining my truck I've had knocking when using regular fuel. He recommended cleaning MAF sensor with a "Q-tip dipped in a little bit of rubbing alcohol to go over the hot wire with the engine & ignition *off* to cleant it".

Couger, I don't know if this is going to work but I'm going to try to paste in what I pulled out of the shop manual from the site I told you about earlier. Here goes -- hope it works

Section 303-14: Electronic Engine Controls 1997 F-150, F-250 Workshop Manual

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION

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Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor

Removal

CAUTION: Always disconnect the battery ground cable prior to work on the electronic engine controls.

Disconnect the battery ground cable.

Open the engine air cleaner.
Disconnect the mass airflow (MAF) sensor connector from the wiring harness.
Release the air cleaner clamp.
Separate the inlet side of the air cleaner from the outlet side of the air cleaner.

CAUTION: Do not cut the MAF sensor wires when cutting the tape on the wire loom.

Cut the tape on the wire loom of the extension harness.
Peel back the wire loom from the extension harness near the grommet in the air cleaner.

Remove the grommet from the outlet side of the air cleaner and slide the grommet down the extension harness.

Remove the MAF sensor plate and MAF sensor from the outlet side of the engine air cleaner.

Disconnect the MAF sensor electrical connector.

Remove the nuts and separate the MAF plate from the MAF sensor.


Installation

CAUTION: Do not tamper with the MAF sensing elements located in the airflow bypass; tampering may result in unit failure.

CAUTION: The grommet used to seal the engine air cleaner housing at the extension harness must be fully seated. Failure to do so will result in unmetered air entering the engine.

NOTE: The MAF sensor module and body are calibrated and replaced as a unit.

NOTE: Use the alignment notch to properly align the inlet side and the outlet side of the engine air cleaner.

NOTE: When the battery is disconnected and reconnected, some abnormal drive symptoms may occur while the vehicle relearns its adaptive strategy. The vehicle may need to be driven 16 km (10 mi) or more to relearn the strategy.

To install, reverse the removal procedure.

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Jerry

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’97 F-150 4x4 SuperCab XLT Flareside; 4.6L EFI; 4-Spd Auto Trans; Firestone P235/70R16; Pacific Green Clearcoat Metallic; Preferred Equipment Package 507A; Min Payload Package; 3.55 Regular Axle; Electric Shift (4x4); Trailer package; 4-wheel ABS; Cloth Captain’s Chairs; Remote K/Less Entry/Anti Theft; Muth Signal Mirrors; Westin Chrome Step Bars; Specialty Covers Truck Bed Cover W/Remote; Performed Airbox Mod & K&N Filter.

 

Couger, Thing pasted except for the diagrams, sorry, can't figure out what went wrong. However, the words are all there for what it worth.

Jerry

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’97 F-150 4x4 SuperCab XLT Flareside; 4.6L EFI; 4-Spd Auto Trans; Firestone P235/70R16; Pacific Green Clearcoat Metallic; Preferred Equipment Package 507A; Min Payload Package; 3.55 Regular Axle; Electric Shift (4x4); Trailer package; 4-wheel ABS; Cloth Captain’s Chairs; Remote K/Less Entry/Anti Theft; Muth Signal Mirrors; Westin Chrome Step Bars; Specialty Covers Truck Bed Cover W/Remote; Performed Airbox Mod & K&N Filter.

 

Thanks for all the info F150Y1997 . . . I'm going to play around with my truck this weekend and if I'm feeling adverterous I'll try to clean the MAF sensor and see how it works.

The info you posted will definitely help, thanks again.

- Coug

p.s. I'll post a response this weekend about my results

 

I just gently shot mine with some Electrical Parts Cleaner...I wouldn't bother with completely removing it.

-AR

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2001 F-150 XLT 4X4 Off-Road, S/C, FS, Black
- 4.6L Triton V8 (Romeo, 20 HP Increase)
- 5 Speed / 3:55 Reg. Axle
- Keyless
- Premium Audio CD
Mods.
- K&N Cold Airbox / Throttle Body Mod.
- Flowmaster 40 (Stock Setup with 3 1/2" x 10" Gibson Tip)
- Cranked Torsion Bars
- APC XENON PLASMA Super Whites
- Bugshield
- Bedliner
- Ventshades
- "Light Argent" 4X4 Off-Road Decals
- K&N & Flowmaster Stickers (Under the Hood)
Build Date: 8/23/00 (Kansas City Plant)

arobbins@mail.liberty.k12.mo.us

 

Message is a bit old, but i had a problem with the idle on my 4.6 dipping when i had a gummed up MAF sensor - courtesy of my K&N. I subsequently found out the easiest procedure to clean the thing:

Open air filter as previously described - then just spray a *bit* of brake cleaner on the sensor and re-assemble. Worked like a top for me.

 

F150Y1997: Isn't running Premium fuel mandatory with the chip?