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MAF causing ping Maybe?

Old Jun 21, 2006 | 04:42 PM
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Lightbulb MAF causing ping Maybe?

97 f-150 4.6 auto 4x4 58k miles

new dpfe, NGK iriduim plugs, 9mm ford racing wires, cleaned MAF, EGR Valve, EGR ports.

I was headed up over mount hood the other day and the motor was pinging like crazy so I pulled over and unplugged the MAF senser because of something I read in a forum.

Basically, by unpluggin the MAF your eliminating a portion of MAF memory in the computer, so it starts over. If the motor runs better when the MAF is unplugged, the MAF is bad.

Well the pinging stopped the rest of the way up the mountain after unpluggin it. I finally plugged the MAF back in because it would hesitate and want to die when I stopped. It ran fine for a while after pluggin it in but then it started pinging agian after about 35 miles.

I dont really think this is a reliable test but, I was wondering what others in this forum feel about this or have experiece with. Seems like unplugging the MAF might send the motor into basic survival mode.

Thanks.
 
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Old Jun 21, 2006 | 05:45 PM
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That is true. It is in limp mode when you lose a major sensor like that. I would suspect that it may have something to do with the NGK plugs. These engines seem to run better with either Motorcraft or Autolite Double Platium plugs.
Has the fuel filter been changed? It may not have enough flow and cause a lean condition.
Have you scanned for codes?
 
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Old Jun 21, 2006 | 05:58 PM
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Changed fuel filter

I changed the fuel filter about a week ago. I havent gotten the check engine light, so no I havent gotten codes, or checked.

When I cleaned the MAF i did use a q-tip and have been hearing thats a no-no. Also considering the Motorcraft plugs, but I havent heard anything bad about NGK iriduim. They are like 8 buck each at the stealership.

Seems like the ping gets really bad under a load or at about 40-55 in OD and accellerating.
 
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Old Jun 21, 2006 | 11:13 PM
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I would scan for codes anyway. It may have stored one without the MIL being lit.
Those filiments in the MAF are very fragile, you could have damaged one. If you can find one at a local salvage yard fairly cheap, it may be worth a shot to swap it out. Just make sure that they have the same part# stamped in them so that the calibration will be correct.
 
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Old Jun 22, 2006 | 01:19 AM
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I have to think the problem is electrical because the pinging went away when the MAF was unplugged. The truck does seem to be sluggish and unplugging the MAF did nothing to hurt the power. Whenever I reset the computer the pinging goes away.

I think I will take it somewhere like you suggested and have a diagnostic run, check for codes, to see if they can find anything uncommon that is causing this condition.

Thanks for they suggestions.
 
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Old Jun 22, 2006 | 02:09 AM
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Have you visually inspected the MAF to make sure no cotton from the q-tip is lodged on the sensor?
 
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Old Jun 22, 2006 | 02:47 AM
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No cotton

I wish that was the problem, that sure would be nice.

I have noticed that the elements are a little uneven though, from the Q-tips, I am guessing.

I just hit it with the MAF senser cleaner agian today and wiped down my K&N to get off any oil I might have on it. But the thing is the ping started before re-oiling the filter or changing the plugs (NGK Iriduim). I have tried to do almost everything except o2 sensers and MAF replacement.

Another thing Ive noticed is I do get a hissing sound sometimes, after I reset the ECM the hiss and the pinging go away for about 35 miles or untell the computer re-learns what it needs.

I really dont understand what egr soleniod does but thats the only egr component I havent changed. Iam also thinking that I should just go with the Motorcraft plugs like suggested so I can eliminate that possiblity altogether.
 
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Old Jun 22, 2006 | 11:40 AM
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The EGR solenoid is just an electrical switch that opens when the PCM demands EGR gasses to allow vacuum to the EGR valve itself.
 
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Old Jun 22, 2006 | 08:03 PM
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Maybe that egr solenoid is causing the hissing sound. Its definately not the intake so Im guessing thats it. Does anyone know if the hissing is normal? Sounds like a valve opening and closing, but I dont remember if it did that when I bought the truck.

When I cleaned out the egr valves I did the blow test on the egr solenoid and it did let a little air through, which was normal, I believe.
 
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Old Jun 25, 2006 | 04:24 AM
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Well I decided to go another rout and run some seafoam through the brake booster vac line. That produced a ton of smoke but it was still pinging away afterwards. Truck only has 58k on it so there probably wasnt alot of carbon build up, did give it better acceleration. But I have just started to run the other half bottle in the gas and so far the ping has almost completely gone away.
 
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