How to Clean Ford Mass Air Flow Sensors

A mass airflow sensor on a Ford is a hot-wire sensor. It is used to sense the amount of air volume or passing the mass airflow sensor and entering the intake manifold. The mass airflow operates through the use of a very small thin wire that is centered in the middle of the sensor in the path of the incoming air. If any part of this sensor gets dirty, voltage, supplied to the sensor by the computer, will not be accurate. The computer monitors this varying voltage to maintain a constant temperature on the wire, and uses this to adjust the fuel injection duty cycle and the timing of the ignition.

Things You'll Need

• Common screwdriver Can of Electro Cleaner aerosol

Instructions

1. Raise the hood on the vehicle. Using a common screwdriver, remove the air cleaner cover.

2. Remove the electrical connector on the mass airflow sensor by pulling the connector out. Loosen the clamps around the mass airflow sensor using the screwdriver. Pull the sensor out of the air cleaner tube.

3. Clean the mass airflow sensor with the electro cleaner. It is important to know that the wire is very fragile and can be damaged easily. Hold the aerosol can far away, at least two feet from the sensor when spraying on the wire. Any force on the wire and it will break. Allow a mist to rain down on the wire and surrounding area. Allow to air dry before reinstalling.

4. Install the mass airflow sensor into the tube making sure that the arrow on the sensor is pointing toward the engine. The sensor will not work if facing backwards in the air stream. Tighten the clamps with the screwdriver and reinstall the air cleaner. Finally insert the electrical connector back into the sensor.