2004 Ford Taurus,Mass Air Flow Sensor,trouble codes etc...

[Drater]

Ok,first off I do not know hardly anything about cars so.......My check engine light came on & I took it to Autozone to get it checked out they said it might be the spark plugs & wires so....I got them changed & everything was fine for a few days or so but once again the check engine light came back on so once again I went back to Autozone they said this time it was the Mass Air Flow Sensor,I got trouble codes printed from them saying:Codes P0300,P0171 & P0174,The PCM has determined that during testing,the fuel system for bank 1 & bank 2 was too lean.

So is the Mass Air Flow Sensor the problem?? Is it an easy fix that I could do it myself?? Where is it located?

The dealership said it would cost around $400 to fix. However the part at Autozone if I do it myself is $150

Could someone send me a pic of the location? & what the Mass Air Flow Sensor looks like? Can I do it? or better to leave it to the dealership?

Last,could it be something other than that sensor?

The car jerked once a few days ago then the check engine light came on other wise I don't see anything wrong with the car?? Any advise?? Please??
Please e-mail me &/or reply,thanks!

E-mail [removed by shorod]

[shorod]

Welcome to the forum!

As a general rule of thumb, it is not encouraged to respond to someone via e-mail rather than posting on the thread since information is not shared openly that way. When people actually use the "Search this forum" feature rather than starting a new thread, they find threads, like yours, but with no responses. So they then have to make a post, and people responding to the posts end up having to type the same information out multiple times.

If you were to look back at the Taurus forum main page, you might notice that the very top sticky addresses two of the three very codes you are asking about.

-Rod

[Drater]

Ummmm....ok....that doesn't answer my question though?? That sticky post at the top gives me an idea but not an answer......it's not the trouble codes I'm really even worried about it's the location of it to begin with? I'm fine with a e-mail reply by the way unless thats a rule breaker on your forums? I want to know can I see it just by opening the hood of my car or do I have to take apart my car(engine) just to get to the sensor? How do I know that,that sensor is bad? I don't want to replace it unless I have to replace it,you know after all it's almost x-mas. Will it hurt my car/break down if I don't get it fixed soon?

[drdisque]

I'd venture to say that if the car is performing properly that it is not the MAF but the O2 sensor on that bank of cylinders.

[shorod]

Your first question was if the MAF is your problem. The information in the sticky would suggest otherwise. Without having the car to look over, I think the best any of us on the forum can do is offer you ideas based on collective experience.

Which engine does your Taurus have? Typically the MAF is located in the air intake tube, just after the air filter housing and before the throttle body. It usually has either 3 or 5 wires connected to it. However, the OBD-II system of your car has dedicated codes for a faulty MAF, and like drdisque suggested, a bad MAF will usually cause driveability concerns.

The MAF is not difficult to change, but I don't think it will fix your car's problems. If the Check Engine Light isn't flashing, the problem won't likely cause any short term damage. You will want to get this fixed as soon as you can though. Probably the best way to test the MAF is by monitoring its operation with the datastream mode of a good scan tool.

-Rod

[Doug Tatham]

As stated above your problem is almost certainly loss of vacuum and likely because of the pcv. If you are determined to check your MAF, it's easy to get to with basic tools. Auto parts stores sell MAF sensor cleaner, but any electrical parts cleaner will work. More times than not when you do actually have a MAF sensor problem, cleaning it solves it.
Check the pcv and your vacuum hoses. I've had cracked vacuum hoses give the same symptoms as a pcv, so check it before you install the new one so you can return it if necessary. If air goes through in one direction and not the other, it's ok.