Pretty much a stock motor with BBK Throttle Body and Cold air intake. Got the 157 code. I replaced the MAF unit with a new Ford one. Disconnected the battery for 15 minutes and still getting the 157 code. Not really sure were to start.
Are you running some sort of cold air kit in front of the MAF or stock air box? If oil from the air filter gets on the MAF then this code is usually triggered.
If not then you have to get a multimeter and check pins to make sure you're getting equal voltage to the MAF.
With a DVOM (multi-meter) check continuity from pins 9(TAN/LT BLU) and 50(LT BLU/RED) to their corresponding ends on the maf harness. also, with the main ECU and maf plugs disconnected, check for continuity to ground.
b]Code 66 or 157 [/b] MAF below minimum test voltage.
Revised 15 mar 2018 to clarify how to do resistance checks on the MAF wiring
Insufficient or no voltage from MAF. Dirty MAF element, bad MAF, bad MAF wiring, missing power to MAF. Check for missing +12 volts on this circuit. Check the two links for a wiring diagram to help you find the red wire for computer power relay switched +12 volts. Check for 12 volts between the red and black wires on the MAF heater (usually pins A & B). while the connector is plugged into the MAF. This may require the use of a couple of safety pins to probe the MAF connector from the back side of it.
Computer wiring harness connector, wire side
Computer wiring harness connector, computer side side
Diagrams courtesy of Tmoss and Stang&2Birds
ECC Diagram for 88-90 5.0 Mustangs
ECC Diagram for 91-93 5.0 Mustangs
94-95 Diagram for 94-95 5.0 Mustangs[/b]
How the MAF works
There are three parts in a MAF: the heater, the sensor element and the amplifier. The heater heats the MAF sensor element causing the resistance to increase. The amplifier buffers the MAF output signal and has a resistor that is laser trimmed to provide an output range compatible with the computer's load tables. Changes in RPM causes the airflow to increase or decrease, changing the voltage output.. The increase of air across the MAF sensor element causes it to cool, allowing more voltage to pass and telling the computer to increase the fuel flow. A decrease in airflow causes the MAF sensor element to get warmer, decreasing the voltage and reducing the fuel flow.
The MAF element is secured by 2 screws & has 1 wiring connector. To clean the element, remove it from the MAF housing and spray it down with electronic parts cleaner or non-inflammable brake parts cleaner (same stuff in a bigger can and cheaper too).
89-90 Model cars: Measure the MAF output at pins C & D on the MAF connector (dark blue/orange and tan/light blue) or at pins 50 & 9 on the computer. Be sure to measure the sensor output by measuring across the pins and not between the pins and ground.
91-95 Model cars: Measure the MAF output at pins C & D on the MAF connector light blue/red and tan/light blue) or at pins 50 & 9 on the computer. Be sure to measure the sensor output by measuring across the pins and not between the pins and ground.
At idle = approximately .6 volt
20 MPH = approximately 1.10 volt
40 MPH = approximately 1.70 volt
60 MPH = approximately 2.10 volt
Actually MAF pins C & D float with reference to ground. The signal output of the MAF is a differential amplifier setup. Pins C & D both carry the output signal, but one pin's output is inverted from the other. The difference in signal between C & D is what the computer's input circuit is looking for. The difference in the two outputs helps cancel out electrical noise generated by the ignition system and other components. Since the noise will be of the same polarity, wave shape and magnitude, the differential input of the computer electronically subtracts it from the signal. Then it passes the signal on to an Analog to Digital converter section inside the computer's CPU chip.
Check the resistance of the MAF signal wiring
For the next 2 checks make your measurement with the MAF disconnected from the wiring harness.
Pin D on the MAF wiring harness and pin 50 on the computer (dark blue/orange wire) should be less than 2 ohms. Pin C on the MAF wiring harness and pin 9 on the computer (tan/light blue wire) should be less than 2 ohms.
There should be a minimum of 10K ohms between either pin C or D on the MAF wiring connector and pins A or B.
Reconnect the MAF to the wiring harness and proceed to the next section.