Questions and Answers

Ford Taurus MAF Problems? Q. I have a 1989 Ford Taurus that is very hard on gas. Had O2 sensor changed, spark plug wires and spark plugs. Still hard on gas please. Help me out. I saw on your site something about MAF solenoid to be changed. Where is this located? Thanks, Terry

A. I think you mean the Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor. First thing I would do is scan the computer for stored DTCs. If any of the following DTCs show up, you probably do have a problem with the MAF.

• 181, 189 (Fuel system lean, Bank 1 or 2)
• 179, 188 (Fuel system rich, Bank 1 or 2)
• 171, 172, 173 (HO2S11 lack of switching, Bank 1)
• 175, 176, 177 (HO2S21 lack of switching, Bank 2)
• 184, 185 (MAF higher/lower than expected)
• 186, 187 (Injector pulse width higher/lower than expected)

Here's how another reader fixed the problem:

"Hello Vince, I just wanted to drop you a line and tell you how I got rid of the diagnostic codes listed below. I simply unbuckled the air cleaner, exposing the MAF. I then sprayed the two wires in the throat of the MAF with aerosol electronic cleaner.

I used Chemtronics brand but I'm sure any brand of "fast evaporating" non-residue spray will do. After the spray job, I waited one minute or so for the cleaner to evaporate and reconnected the air cleaner. After buttoning up the air cleaner, I erased the codes, it's been 700 miles and the codes have not returned! I suspect I had an ultra thin coating of dust/oil on the MAF wires."