IU have a 97 Ford Explorer V6 SOHC. My check engine light went on and it's giving me an O2 message and several misfire codes. The car is "bucking" and "lurching". It shakes when I accelerate as well. It seemed to me it was an airflow issue. I read about cleaning the mass air flow sensor so I did that. I didnt completely take it out. I just sprayed some contact cleaner on it through the tube. My problem is still there. Would I be getting a mass air flow sensor code if that was the problem? any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

MAF is very sensitive to sealants such as silicon. In fact using a silicone sealant when installing a K&N air filter is enough to kill it. SOunds like yours is dead and you ensured its burial by spraying it with contact cleaner... Borrow a code reader and check out the MAF.

 

Eletrical contact cleaner is specifically designed to clean sensitive wiring without damaging it. I have cleaned my MAF a couple of times with contact cleaner, and it works fine.

 

Yes, you will get some type of code if the mass dies. The prongs on the mass air sensors are tiny and can break very easy. I've broken one with a q-tip the first time I tried cleaning them.

I would recommend going by Auto Zone. They will read the codes for free. See if you have any codes coming up, and go from there...

 

So what is the best way to clean a Mass Airflow Sensor? I read somewhere that Ford say they can't be cleaned. Would a can of Air Duster do the job or is contact cleaner the stuff to use?

 

I've had good luck with carb cleaner and a toothbrush. Ford says that you can't service it, but you can. The hardest part is getting the tamper resistant torx screws out. I've seen the TR bits at pep boys. After I got the sensor out, I saturated the tooth brush with carb cleaner and VERY VERY GENTLY cleaned the filaments. I embeded the filament in the bristles and scraped the brush back and forth. The sides of the bristles were actually doing the cleaning, not the tips of the bristles. After that, give the filaments a good spray of cleaner and then set it aside for 10 minutes or so to dry. Then just put it back in. All together, it takes me about 15 minutes to do this.

Good luck.

 

Thanks for that advice Maal39, the idea of using a toothbrush sounds a bit scary so I'll look for one with soft bristles! I'll have a go this weekend if it's not too cold.

_________________
97 Explorer 4x4 SOHC
4.0L V6

 

I've not had the need to tough the 2 wires on the MAF with any brushes to clean them. Just spray with carb cleaner and it works fine.

 

I prefer to use a short bristle artist paint brush and carb cleaner. Keep working the brush/cleaner around until the MAF is clean then give it one final spray of carb cleaner followed by a light blast of air. The filaments of the MAF are delicate; be gentle and they will not break.

 

Thanks JHarger and CowboyBilly9Mile (love that handle)
Got my carb cleaner and plenty artists brushes. I'll treat the MAF with care. Let you know how I get on.

TartanDon