Dumb MAF Mistake

[Svashtar]

Cleaned my throttle body and MAF sensor today, and cleaned and reoiled the air filter, lightly. (Have a PHP CAK and Metco tube setup.)

Started up the car and it bobbled the idle a bit and gave up two DTC's and a check engine light. DTC's were 102 and 113, MAF sensor and intake temp.

I figured the 113 was because of the TB cleaner. Cleared the codes to kill the light but they showed up again on every restart.

Anyway after 5 minutes figured out I had forgotten to plug in the MAF sensor! :stupid:

Plugged it back in and idle smoothed out and no codes or light. Seems OK but this is my baby. Just wanted to check and see if I need to have it looked at, or if any damage might have been done. I doubt it, but better safe than sorry.

BTW, I can't believe how responsive it is now after just a simple cleaning! It's been a while, 15K miles anyway. There was a lot of crud in the TB, It's almost like a different car now. Surprising.

Thanks for any info on the MAF sensor unplug.

Norm

[Krytin]

If it's not throwing codes it's ok!
It may be relearning some settings after starting w/out being plugged in (or not), but after a few cycles/100 miles it should be back to normal.

Don't feel bad, I know an Electrical Engineer who tried fixing a table lamp for close to an hour before he found out it wasn't plugged into the wall outlet!

[Svashtar]

Thanks Krytin! No codes and it's running great. Probably wasn't any good for the engine trying to figure itself out for 5 minutes, but I think I'm OK. Thanks for the info. (I was glad I just installed the Scan Gauge II; made figuring things out a bit easier.)
Norm

[ctrlraven]

I did that one time, even made a post about it. Then figured out I forgot to plug it in lol.

[wchain]

What did you clean the MAF with?

Electrical Contact or MAF Sensor Cleaner I hope.

Everything else leaves a residue.

[ctrlraven]

What did you clean the MAF with?

Electrical Contact or MAF Sensor Cleaner I hope.

Everything else leaves a residue.

I use Electrical Contact Cleaner, $1-2 cheaper than MAF cleaner and does the same exact thing.

[wchain]

I use Electrical Contact Cleaner, $1-2 cheaper than MAF cleaner and does the same exact thing.


SOme chemical company is making lots of $$ relabeling Electrical contact cleaner.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

Some of the electrical contact cleaner has mineral oil lubricant in it, which I am sure MAF wire cleaner does not. I would not automatically assume they are chemically equivalent. If your contact cleaner has any lubricant in it, I wouldn't be spraying that on the MAF

[ctrlraven]

I've always used CRC Electrical Contact Cleaner with the 5 Ford past/current vehicles I have owned and never had a problem.

[Svashtar]

Hey Wes! Just bought some "MAF Sensor Cleaner" at Autozone. $7 or $8 I think. I can't remember who makes it but it seemed to work very well. The instructions just said to give the wires or "hot plate?" about 15 short bursts with the tube attached, and to be sure not to have any physical contact with the wires. Then make sure the whole thing is dry before re-installing. I'll definitely clean it again each time I re-oil the filter.

Norm

[TooManyFords]

Yep, it's ruined... You'd better just send me your car and I will dispose of it properly.

:D