This 2003 Ford Windstar came in with the service engine soon light on. Checking code revealed codes P0171 and P0174, banks 1 and 2 lean. I checked for vacuum leaks and none were found so I moved on to the Mass Air Flow sensor. It is common for them to get dirty and cause these fault codes. The MAF sensor is located inside the air filter housing so it had to be removed. I loosened both hose clamps and pulled the rubber boot from the throttle body and then from the air filter housing. Then I unlocked the spring clamp that holds the two halves together.
The crankcase ventilation tube also had to be removed from the rubber hose and more importantly it has to be put back in place during assembly. You can see it just to the left of the master cylinder.
After unhooking the wiring harness connector I took the housing to the bench for dis assembly. There are several locks that have to be released. I used a common screwdriver blade to pry them inward while pushing the sensor out from the other end.
There is also another wiring subharness that has to be removed. It is kind of a pain but I take my time so as to not cause any damage. Once the two halves were separated I removed the sensor from the housing using and tamper resistant torx bit socket.
This is were the actual sensor elements are located and in most cases you will find a build up or film on the element. I use a pick as shown or a small screw driver and very lightly rub the film off. Sometimes if it is heavy it will lift off in one try but most of the time it takes a little while of very light rubbing to remove the film. Some people use cleaners but I prefer to manually rub it off so as not to cause and damage to the sensitive parts. Many cleaners will damage the plastics.
Just several different pictures of the same sensor. There are two elements inside and the most problematic one is the one further inside that you cannot see.
This is just one of the possible causes. There are many and one of my readers left a link to a repair site that has more answers on this problem.
Ford has a TSB out on this for 1999 to 2003 Windstar. if you want to do it yourself, you need to go to your local parts store or dealership and ask for a “Valve cover repair kit”. This site link gives step by step instructions for the fix.
At the end of my post there is a link to someone else’s information about replacing leaking intake gaskets per Ford’s TSB.
i am getting these same codes. i have installed a new maf and reset the the codes and am still getting same code. any ideas? thanks
had this van for 3 years and never have money to fix the problem, until this page helps and noticed yeah maf was so dirty, cleaned it engine runs better, unless need major tune up , have never did one since i bought it in may 2007
Great information and very true and after 30 yrs of working on cars and trucks the one point is make sure you check your air cleaner and change when needed as this helps keep the dirt off this sensor.
Here is a most common problem for P0171 and P0174 codes. So if the above doesn’t fix it this will…The culprets of the P0171 and 174 codes… bolts with black shoulders, Isolator Bolts,
http://leckemby.net/windstar/windstar01.html