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I think my maf is playing games with me

  • Thread starter Thread starter Black1987Stang
  • Start date Start date Nov 12, 2006

Black1987Stang

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#1
  • Nov 12, 2006
  • #1
Most of the time my car runs nice and smooth, then the other time (happens most of the time when its just getting up to max operating temps when it does happen) I'll just be idling at a light and all of a sudden u hear a whole different note in exhaust tone, and the vacuum will drop to 8 in. from normal 13in., the exhaust smells rich, might push out a little bit of smoke, and it will buck, have loss of power etc.....BUT if I stop turn the motor off for a couple minutes and restart it it's Perfect the only odd codes I have are 41 and 91 memory codes (Lean code), so this is what makes me want to think its the maf, or at least something that the computer looks at to determine the pulsewidth. What else could it be????
Btw last time I cleaned the maf element was about a month ago and was clean as can be.
 

jrichker

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#2
  • Nov 12, 2006
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Check your O2 sensors - they are only good for about 60 K miles. After that, they start to go downhill. Check and clean the O2 sensor connections

Code 41 or 91 - O2 indicates system lean. Look for a vacuum leak or failing O2 sensor.

The computer sees a lean mixture signal coming from the O2 sensors and tries to compensate by adding more fuel. Many times the end result is an engine that runs pig rich and stinks of unburned fuel.

The following is a Quote from Charles O. Probst, Ford fuel Injection & Electronic Engine control:
"When the mixture is lean, the exhaust gas has oxygen, about the same amount as the ambient air. So the sensor will generate less than 400 Millivolts. Remember lean = less voltage.

When the mixture is rich, there's less oxygen in the exhaust than in the ambient air , so voltage is generated between the two sides of the tip. The voltage is greater than 600 millivolts. Remember rich = more voltage.

Here's a tip: the newer the sensor, the more the voltage changes, swinging from as low as 0.1 volt to as much as 0.9 volt. As an oxygen sensor ages, the voltage changes get smaller and slower - the voltage change lags behind the change in exhaust gas oxygen.

Because the oxygen sensor generates its own voltage, never apply voltage and never measure resistance of the sensor circuit. To measure voltage signals, use an analog voltmeter with a high input impedance, at least 10 megohms. Remember, a digital voltmeter will average a changing voltage." End Quote

Measuring the O2 sensor voltage at the computer will give you a good idea of how well they are working. You'll have to pull the passenger side kick panel off to gain access to the computer connector. Remove the plastic wiring cover to get to the back side of the wiring. Use a safety pin or paper clip to probe the connections from the rear. The computer pins are 29 (LH O2 with a dark green/pink wire) and 43 (RH O2 with a dark blue/pink wire). Use the ground next to the computer to ground the voltmeter.

Most of the common multimeters have a resistance scale. Be sure the O2 sensors are disconnected and measure the resistance from the O2 sensor body harness to the pins on the computer.

Note that all resistance tests must be done with power off. Measuring resistance with a circuit powered on will give false readings and possibly damage the meter. Do not attempt to measure the resistance of the O2 sensors, it may damage them.

The O2 sensor ground (orange wire with a ring terminal on it) is in the wiring harness for the fuel injection wiring. I grounded mine to one of the intake manifold bolts
 

HISSIN50

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#3
  • Nov 12, 2006
  • #3
That vacuum thing is interesting. Have you been able to get under the hood when the vac reading falls off and see if you can hear any hissing, etc?

I dont see where the MAF directly would affect the vac reading - the MAF is before the TB.

Good luck.
 

Black1987Stang

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  • Nov 12, 2006
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Thanks Jrichker, Ill check them out some more but I replaced both of them about 6-10,000 miles ago and I checked all the connections, everything looks good.
 

Black1987Stang

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  • Nov 12, 2006
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HISSIN50 said:
That vacuum thing is interesting. Have you been able to get under the hood when the vac reading falls off and see if you can hear any hissing, etc?

I dont see where the MAF directly would affect the vac reading - the MAF is before the TB.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

theres no hissing, but if its making it running say rich, its not going to run as efficiently say because of too much fuel and have lower vacuum readings. Correct me if im wrong.
 
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