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.
I have a 2000 windstar I have changed my MAF, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND THE MAF FILTER and it keeps cutting off putting and blowing black smoke when driving it it feels like I’m driving in slow motion PLEASE HELP
Ok thanks …well I took it in and the mec. Thinks its the fuel pump I guess ill see
A faulty MAF sensor could cause a stalling problem and possibly a no run problem. The torx screws that hold the MAF in place are called tamper resistant torx. There are special bits for removing them. It would be far more likely that you have an ignition or fuel pressure problem from your description.
Hi there I have a 1998 windstar that those 2 codes came up but reading this post would it cause the engine to stall and not start for an hour idles bad and lose of power at all speeds just wondering where to start …changed plugs and cleanded egr pcv and back side of the maf where can I find the torx wrench for it and why is1 bolt not cut outthanks
There is a link at the end of the post that you should look at as well.