Ford Explorer Mass Air Flow Sensor Cleaning
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- čas přidán 19. 02. 2017
- In this video I show how to remove, clean, and replace the mass airflow sensor in a 2001 Ford Explorer. A dirty MAF sensor can be the cause of a check engine light and codes P0171 Bank 1 Too Lean and P0174 Bank 2 Too Lean.
I believe this same MAF sensor is used in the following vehicles and the cleaning procedure should be very similar:
1999-2003 FORD E-150
1999-2003 FORD E-250
2001-2006 FORD ESCAPE
1999-2003 FORD EXPLORER
2001-2005 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC
2002-2004 FORD FOCUS
2001-2004 FORD MUSTANG
2001-2003 FORD RANGER
2000-2003 FORD TAURUS
1999-2001 FORD WINDSTAR
2005-2006 MERCURY MARINER
1999-2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER
2000-2003 MERCURY SABLE - Věda a technologie
Thanks for this ... eliminates a bunch of wasted time checking stuff that I didn’t have to
Thank you this was very helpful.
Thanx 4 your info, great video!!!!
Glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching.
Most definitely, I'm gonna clean mine tomorrow
good afternoon greetings I have ploblems with my bus ford explorer 2000 4.0 while I run the bus loses power to accelerate drowns and pulls the scanie and does not give codes could you help me
Thank you very much.
We have same electric screwdriver, I love it
They are quite handy. I got my first one probably 20 years ago or more and it's still working fine. Later I was able to buy a bag at a sale with 4 or 5 more used ones and several chargers for something like $10. It's nice to be able to swap the battery when it gets low - so many of the inexpensive new handheld screwdrivers have built in batteries so you have to plug the whole thing in and can't use it when charging. The only problem with these is that the batteries do eventually wear out and the company quit making the batteries a while ago. But you can get "clone" batteries from third party companies online that seem to work well.
Hello, just saw your channel while scanning CZcams because my 1997 Ford Explorer is showing the P0171 code. This video was a big help. My question is if I do take the MAF sensor out clean it and put it back in will the engine light go away? Will it still stay on? You talked about resetting the engine light. How does one go about doing that? Does that mean that the only way you can check to see if what you did was right is by resetting the code? Do you need certain tools to do that. Thank you
It's been so long since I did this video I am unsure of the details. Your question if the engine light will go away involves two things. First, if cleaning the MAF fixes the problem, will the light go out? That I am not sure of. I have a tool that I used to reset the light. It depends on the code, because some codes will clear automatically when the vehicle sees the problem is fixed, and other codes set permanently and have to be cleared with a scan tool. To clear it you can go to many auto parts stores and borrow a scan tool that can be used to clear the code, or you can do like I did and buy a small bluetooth device that you plug into the diagnostic port and use an app on a smartphone to see codes and clear them. The second thing to consider for "if I clean the MAF will the light go out" is that cleaning the MAF might not fix your problem. There are many other problems that can cause this code to set. For my 2001 Explorer I had to have the intake manifold gasket replaced. Anything that causes a vacuum leak can set this code. Cracked vacuum hoses, etc. But since it is the least expensive thing to try, I would recommend to do as I did and clean the sensor, use a scan tool to clear the code, then see if it comes back soon. If it comes back you likely have another problem that will be harder to diagnose and more expensive to fix.
What about the electrical cleaner? I wish id have seen this soon didn't know there was mass airflow sensor cleaner
Was it a success? DId cleaning the MAFS clear your P0172 and P0174 Codes?
Unfortunately it did not. I had a much bigger problem - leaking intake manifold gaskets that needed to be replaced. But when you have these codes it's a quick and inexpensive job to clean the MAFS and see if it fixes the problem. It should probably be done periodically anyway.
so if I already have an engine light, and code does that mean it needs to be replaced... or should you still try to clean it?
I would try to clean it first, then reset the code and see if it comes back. It might not fix the problem but it doesn't cost much for a can of cleaner and only takes a few minutes to do, so you might as well try the easiest thing first.
hi
I could not find that cleaner in my area so, can I use electronic cleaner instead? please help! thank you.
I don't know if electronic cleaner would be safe to use. I read a bit online and found one page that said it would work fine and another page that said don't use it because it leaves a residue. Real MAF cleaner should be available from most auto parts stores or you could order it online. I found it available on Walmart's site and Amazon. Don't use carburetor cleaner or WD40.
What was the security bit size needed to remove the mafs?
Sorry, I don't remember and I don't own the 2001 Explorer anymore so I can't go check. But if you don't have a security bit set and you are going to do work like this I would recommend you just get a whole set of security bits. If you have a discount tool store near you it would probably only cost $10 to $15 to get a whole set and you will have everything you need for any jobs like this in the future. Thanks for watching.
This is probably way too late but my 4.0l SOHC V6 in an 05 Ford Courier takes T20 standard torx bits.
My truck is 2000 Ford explorer sport xlt and in park while engine running its shuts off...do you think that's the problem air flow mass sensor?
I think it is more likely a part called the "idle air control valve." The IAC is a valve controlled by the engine controller that allows air to go around the throttle valve and into the engine so it can still get some air when your foot is off the gas pedal. They are known to stop working. Cleaning them sometimes fixes the problem but by the time you go to the trouble to remove it, it is probably a better idea to just install a new one.
where do you buy a set and which one?
I didn't buy a new MAF sensor, I just cleaned the one that was there. I got the cleaner spray at one of the local auto parts stores. Any auto part store should have some.
In case anyone still needs to know, a t15 star/torx bit is needed for the screws. At least mine were.
Is it a standard torx or the security torx with the pin in the center? Looking at my own video, it looks like the screws might be security torx with the pin. I traded the 2001 Explorer for a newer one a few years ago so I can't check.
@@cdsmith gap for the pin in the middle. Mines a 02 mountaineer.
what is the fuse box under that hose.
Not sure what fuse box you are referring to. I do not have the 2001 Explorer anymore so I can't go take a look under the hood. Usually vehicles have at least two fuse boxes, one in the interior for things inside the cabin, and one in the engine compartment for things in the engine compartment.
Can I clean my sensor even though I don't have any codes just to keep it clean?? Thank you.
Sure. Just be careful when you do it and use only real air flow sensor cleaner. It wouldn't be good if you accidentally caused a problem cleaning a sensor on a vehicle that was running fine. I also found that the throttle body was dirty back when I made this video, so it might not be a bad idea to clean that as well.
@@cdsmith Ok thank you so much!!!
Is it okay to clean the connector with a wet liquid, since that houses electrical content?
Should be OK as long as you make sure it's dry before you put things back together. I would recommend an actual electrical contact cleaner to clean the connectors, and make sure you don't get any cleaner on the air flow sensor itself. You only want to use actual MAF cleaner on the sensor element.
@@cdsmith okay. I will have to do this soon because of the engine code. Thank you for the advice
@@jch1276 Hopefully cleaning the sensor will cure your code. For my Explorer it turned out I had a bad intake manifold gasket that had to be replaced.
@@cdsmith how in the world did you figure that out??
@@jch1276 I didn't figure it out. I ended up taking it to a repair shop after the easy fixes like cleaning the MAF sensor didn't fix the problem. I still posted this video though, because a dirty or bad MAF sensor can cause these codes and cleaning it is the first thing you should try before spending lots of money on other things.
I did this and now my truck won’t start.. help?
Yikes lol
Damm u most likely didn't let it dry and fried it
Dose this eliminate codes ?
Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. It depends on what is actually wrong. Cleaning the sensor can eliminate the codes, but sometimes the codes are caused by another problem. In my case, my Explorer had a leak in the intake manifold gasket and the gasket needed to be replaced.
What tool is that
The tool I used to remove the screws? It's just an old Black and Decker cordless screwdriver. But to remove the screws you will also need a bit that fits the screw heads. I believe they were the tamper proof Torx type that have a star shaped hole with a pin in the center. You'll need to get a set of screwdriver bits that has these to remove and replace the sensor.
My truck idling very poorly and when I hit the gas it dies
The engine family has been used since 1974 I believe
It kicks on good and strong then shuts off after 5 secs
Hmm... That's not good. The first thing I would check is that you got the connector plugged back in properly and that none of the pins inside the connector have been damaged or pushed back into the shell so they are not making proper contact. When I did a search on shutting off after a few seconds I found one post on a message board that said to unplug the MAF sensor and then try to start the engine and see if it works. But I'm not sure what that accomplishes. Maybe that makes it ignore the sensor and try to run without it. The rest of the info I found was that this problem is usually caused by a bad fuel pump or clogged fuel filter. But that would be quite a coincidence if that happened at the same time you were cleaning the MAF sensor, so that is not really a satisfying answer either. When I still had my 2001 Explorer I got help with a lot of problems by just Google searching the problem and usually I'd find a discussion on one of the Explorer message boards that helped.
Carl Smith thanks for the tip, I waited a day and unplugged the sensor now it’s starting. Got a new one coming from ebay
If you really wanna help people tell them what problem your car had and what the symptoms was exactly and also did cleaning that fix your car because by addressing these things people will know whether or not they really need to do this or not
I said right in the description and in the video that the problem I had was a check engine light and codes P0171 Bank 1 Too Lean and P0174 Bank 2 Too Lean. But I when I made this video I wanted it to be about the general procedure of how to do the cleaning, which can be necessary for many other reasons than just those particular codes, so that's why I just mentioned the problem quickly and went on to the cleaning procedure. The video is for people who do a Google search on their problem and find that the search results all say "Clean your MAF sensor" so they search CZcams and find this video. Thanks for watching.
Carl Smith... OK that’s cool that makes sense, people don’t always understand codes but it does help them with more detailed symptoms and stuff like that. But that’s cool, I see we’re you’re coming from
You said not to touch the sensor part with the straw etc. But yet you had it rest on the dirty table where u just blow off the debri. Hahaja dnt make any sense pops
Actually resting the end of this particular sensor on the table is just fine. The fragile part that you shouldn't touch is the sensor element that is exposed by the holes in the sides of plastic tower part. The end of the unit is closed.