2000 ford explorer mass air flow sensor problems

What problems can a bad mass airflow sensor cause? If it runs smoothly, you’ve confirmed that the MAF sensor is the problem. To test whether this is the case, unplug the MAF sensor and start the engine again. It is possible that under the effects of a MAF sensor failure the engine starts running lean or rich, both of which could cause rough running. Will a bad mass airflow sensor make your car run rough? Test drive the vehicle and see if the problem has been resolved.Place the new sensor in and screw it in place.Take the old sensor out and compare it to the new one to make sure they’re identical.Unplug the power wires and unscrew the sensor.Trace the intake hose from the air filter to locate the MAF sensor.Be careful how you handle the new MAF sensor, as even touching the hot wire is enough to disrupt future readings. Any price and availability information displayed on at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.Ĭhanging the MAF sensor is one of the easiest tasks and it requires only the basic tools and 10 minutes of your time. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on: Driving for hundreds of miles in limp mode could foul the valves, cause the oil and fuel to mix, and a number of other issues easily avoidable by swapping the MAF sensor. Technically, the limp mode should be safe to drive in, but the problem is that it more than likely makes the engine run rich, just in case. The safe/limp mode is not optimal for long-term driving, and your engine needs the MAF sensor to run properly. While unplugging the MAF sensor to test whether it’s the cause of your problems is fine, you should not continue driving without it. As the name implies, the performance will be reduced and the turbocharger won’t work, but you’ll be able to drive the car.įor the safe/limp mode to offer more power than the regular mode, it means that the MAF sensor is suffering from severe failure, you could still try cleaning it first, but it’s unlikely to help. On the other hand, unplugging the MAF sensor will be recognized by ECU, which will put the car into a safe/limp mode. When the MAF sensor fails, the ECU will incorrectly adjust the air-fuel mixture, causing the engine to run rich. Your car’s ECU is a computer responsible for processing and handling a variety of tasks, including translating the MAF sensor signal into usable data. Why Does Unplugging The Sensor Make The Car Run Better? If the symptoms are minor, the sensor can be cleaned with a dedicated MAF cleaner, but if unplugging the sensor makes the car run better, it should be replaced. Over time, the particles accumulate on the MAF sensor, causing it to produce inaccurate readings.

However, the air filter does not filtrate 100% of the particles, especially if it’s old.

As it is located after the air filter, the air flowing over it should be clean. The MAF sensor is a very accurate, but also a very delicate component. With no fuel wasted, the fuel economy is at its best, and it also reduces the negative effect on the environment. The optimal air-fuel mixture leads to higher power output and ensures all the fuel gets used up. For modern fuel injection systems, precision is everything, and knowing how much air is available in every millisecond allows the ECU to adjust the fuel injection frequently.

2000 ford explorer mass air flow sensor problems