Some of the common Ford F150 mass air flow symptoms are engine related problems such as difficulty in starting, stalling, rough idling, reduced acceleration and vehicle jerking. With a bad f150 mass air flow sensor the environment is also impacted through increased emissions and black smoke emitting out of the exhaust.
If the F150 MAF sensor is damaged then it will not send correct data to the control panel of your truck. To understand the verification process and know how to solve this problem, let’s get started.
Common Ford F150 Mass Air Flow Sensor Symptoms
With a clogged or damaged mass air flow sensor your F150 will face a lot of problems. Following are some of the common problems from the mass airflow sensor on Ford F150.
Difficulty in Starting
This is one of the most common problems that you need to watch out for.
Reason
To start an engine, the combustion chamber requires a proper air-fuel combustion mixture, and compression stroke for the ignition. So, one of the key ingredients is the air-fuel mixture.
If the F150 mass air flow sensor is damaged or not working properly then it will not keep track of the mass of air flowing through the intake appropriately. Therefore, it can’t convey the signal to the ECM.
Without accurate information ECM can not direct the required flow of fuel in the combustion chamber. That means there won’t be any proper mixing of air and fuel. Without this there will be difficulty in starting the truck.
Engine Stalling
Engine stalling is another annoying problem a driver will face with a malfunctioning MAF sensor.
Reason
The three main reasons for F150 engine stalling are the lack of fuel, lack of air and the lack of proper ignition. If the mass air flow sensor is not working properly then there will be disruption in maintaining the air-fuel ratio.
Without correct data of the mass of air in the intake, the fuel flow will not be accurate. Along with that, if there is any reduction in air intake then the MAF sensor won’t be able to detect that. The overall result from this is the problem of engine stalling.
Rough Idling
Rough Idling is another common engine problem that happens when the mass air flow sensor is not working properly.
Reason
Rough Idling happens when there is inconsistency in the engine firing rate i.e engine misfiring. This inconsistency happens whenever the air-fuel mixture is changed. A malfunctioning mass air flow sensor will disrupt the air fuel mixture in the engine. The result from this will be the engine misfiring or rough idling.
Hesitation During Acceleration
A bad mass air flow sensor will also cause problems in the overall acceleration of your F150.
Reason
With a malfunctioning mass air flow sensor your engine will have too much or too little fuel. The result will be the untimely ignition. Whenever there is untimely ignition there will be issues with driving such as hesitation during acceleration.
Vehicle Jerking
Vehicle jerking is a common problem resulting from a clogged or defective mass air flow sensor.
Reason
Vehicle jerking happens when you try to accelerate your truck and there is a lack of fuel. In most cases it is recommended to check the fuel system and if it is functioning normally then you should check the mass air flow sensor. This is because a bad mass air flow sensor will hamper the fuel flow rate leading to vehicle jerking.
Decreased Fuel Mileage
With a bad mass air flow sensor, your F150 engine performance will also decrease. This decline in performance also means decreased fuel mileage.
Reason
This is an overall drop in fuel efficiency and normally you should check the fuel system first. But if the fuel system is working fine after diagnosis then check the mass air flow sensor. A clogged mass air flow sensor disrupts the flow of fuel in the combustion chamber. This causes a decline in the fuel efficiency of the engine.
Increased Emission
A bad F150 mass air flow sensor is not just harmful for your engine but it is also disruptive for the environment through increasing emission.
Reason
A defective mass air flow sensor will not just lead to reduced fuel intake. It disrupts the overall required fuel intake. This means there can be higher fuel flow to the combustion chamber. The consequence can be higher fuel consumption rate and more consumption means more emission from the exhaust.
Black Smoke from the Exhaust
With a faulty mass air flow sensor your truck harms the environment not just through increased emissions but also through emitting black smoke from the exhaust.
Reason
Black smoke happens whenever the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber is too rich. If the mass air flow sensor is damaged then it will not send accurate data to the ECM. So, the fuel flow might increase. The result of this increase in fuel flow will be a rich mixture and more combustion causing more black smoke emitting from the exhaust.
Check Engine Light Coming Off
This is an easy one and normally if the check engine light is coming on then you need to look for any problem in the mass air flow sensor as well.
Reason
In F150 when the ECM receives an error code of a defective mass air flow sensor then the check engine light will turn on to show that there is a problem with the engine. There are different reasons why the check engine light comes on. You have to diagnose it and verify that the source of the code is a faulty mass air flow sensor.
How To Solve Ford F150 Mass Air Flow Sensor Problems?
Once again, the solution for the mass air flow sensor problem is easy. You have to either clean the mass air flow sensor or just replace it.
Clean Mass Air Flow Sensor
Cleaning the mass air flow sensor is easy. You need to remove the MAF sensor from the truck first by opening up the air filter housing assembly. Next take the MAF sensor and spray it with the MAF sensor cleaner. Spray around each side of the sensor for 3 to 5 seconds. Wait for about 10 seconds for it to dry up. Spray again for 3 to 5 seconds.
Do not try to wipe anything as you are cleaning. Since MAF sensor hot wires are very sensitive, the cleaner does its job and dries up very quickly.
For cleaning the mass air flow sensor you need to use an electrical contact cleaner or mass air flow cleaner. Do not use any rubbing alcohol, windex or carb cleaner.
It is always a good idea to clean the MAF sensor every six months or every time you change the oil. You can also clean the MAF sensor whenever you decide to clean or replace the air filter. This way you can protect the MAF sensor and avoid any problem in the future.
Replace Mass Air Flow Sensor
Following are the steps of replacing the mass air flow sensor on 1997 – 2003 Ford F150.
Step 1: Pop the hood and locate the air filter housing assembly first. Now pull up the air filter housing assembly, make sure to apply some force while you pull the assembly.
Step 2: Then pop open the clamp and remove the first half of the housing assembly.
Step 3: Next you will find the air filter and you need to remove it by just pulling.
Step 4: Underneath the housing assembly you will find a wire. Pull down the rubber gasket of this wire.
Step 5: Grab the mounting plate inside the assembly out. You will find the connector in the back. Press its tab and slide it out.
Step 6: Use a wrench to remove the 10 mm bolts from the connection between the mass air flow sensor and the mounting plate.
Step 7: The entire tube is not the sensor, it is a small part connected with the bolts. To separate the sensor, grab a T20H bit and unscrew the mass air flow sensor out.
Step 8: Grab the new mass air flow sensor and connect it to the tube. Then connect the tube back to the mounting plate. Make sure there is a click when it connects.
Step 9: Next connect back the mounting plate inside the housing assembly.
Step 10: Finally, connect the air filter and entire housing assembly.
Overall, the process of replacing the mass air flow sensor is not difficult. You need to bring out the air filter housing assembly, split it up and bring out the mass airflow sensor inside. If you want a visual guidance for the overall process then check this How to Replace Mass Air Flow Sensor 1997-2003 Ford F-150.
There are some good collections of mass air flow sensors in the market that are compatible with Ford f150.
However, if you are not into DIY work then you should seek professional help. The mass airflow sensor replacement should cost you around $210 to $385. The labor cost will be around $25 to $35 meanwhile the part itself should cost you somewhere from $185 to $350.
How To Diagnose Mass Air Flow Sensor Problem on Ford F150?
Diagnosing the mass airflow sensor on a Ford F150 is easy. Follow these steps to check the condition of the F150 mass air flow sensor.
Tools Required
- Multimeter
Step 1: Locate the mass air flow sensor. It is located near the air filter housing. Grab the connector of this sensor.
Step 2: Turn on the key to the ‘ON’ position without turning on the engine and then remove the ECU connector. The main purpose is to separate the voltage supply wire and the ground wire.
Step 3: After that grab the multimeter, turn it on and put the settings to 20 DC volts. Make sure to find the black test lead and connect it to the battery ground. The connection should not be loose.
Step 4: Now grab the red test lead and connect it to the harness side coming from the ECU. Keep going through the harness, the one showing any voltage is the voltage supply wire.
Step 5: Turn the settings of the multimeter to ohm. Now go through the wiring harness again to find the ground wire. The one showing any ohm value is the ground wire.
Step 6: Next, turn the multimeter settings back to 20 DC volts. Jam paper clips to the back of the remaining two wires in the wiring harness.
Step 7: Turn on the engine and then use the test lead to measure the voltage of the remaining two wires.
Step 8: Check the voltage reading on the multimeter. If it fluctuates a lot or if the voltage jumps ahead by a lot then there is a problem with the mass air flow sensor. But if there is a gradual increase in the voltage value as you increase the RPM then the mass air flow sensor is functioning just fine.
You can also diagnose the problem using an OBD2 scanner. Connect the scanner to the connector port of your truck. Input all the necessary truck information and if you find that there are the codes P0101 and P0102 then there is a problem with the mass air flow sensor. Here is what these codes mean:
- P0101 – Mass Air Flow Circuit / Performance Malfunction
- P0102 – Mass Air Flow Sensor Circuit Low
FAQs
Can I Drive With a Mass Air Flow Sensor Problem on Ford F150?
No, you can not drive with a mass air flow sensor problem on a Ford F150. A problematic mass air flow sensor disrupts the air-fuel ratio which leads to improper combustion. If the combustion process is not done correctly then the engine will face all kinds of problems from stalling to reduced acceleration.
What Should Be the Changing Frequency of Mass Air Flow Sensors?
Changing Frequency of Mass Air Flow Sensor should be before 1,00,000 miles. Normally, mass air flow sensors tend to get worse between the range of 1,00,000 to 1,25,000 miles. So, if you want to avoid engine failure then change it before reaching that range.
How Much Damage Will There Be If I Do Not Replace Ford F150 Mass Air Flow Sensor?
You are at risk of everything from an engine failure to meeting an accident if you do not replace the Ford F150 Mass Air Flow Sensor. A clogged or damaged mass air flow sensor deteriorates engine quality through making it difficult to maintain the proper air-fuel ratio. So, if you diagnose that the mass air flow sensor is not working properly, you need to replace it.
Conclusion
At this point, the solution for Ford F150 Mass Air Flow Sensor Symptoms should be clear to you. So next time, if you suspect any of the symptoms then just diagnose it as instructed and go for the solution. If you are not sure to do it yourself then consult a professional for help.
