Mass Air Flow Sensor

[mamaw56]

Our 2001 gas Class A lost power on the turnpike 4 weeks ago. It's still at the Ford dealer troubleshooting :? They know the mass air flow sensor was the culprit but now everytime they hook up the new one the MH looses power, when they disconnect it it seems to run fine. Question...it's been a month without our home(we full time) Can we drive it with the MAF sensor disconnected? What could possibly be the problem that the dealer can not figure out. They replaced the computer processor a year ago and now they replaced it again. Hopefully they are going to stand good for it since it's been less than a year. $7000 last year for new computer and brakes all around. We're afraid to call and get the verdict. Please advise...

[John_Joey]

mamaw56 wrote:
We have till December of 2019 when we move into our apartment. At that time we hope to sell it and get a small used class C or class B so we can continue to part time travel.

Sounds like a good plan.

[mamaw56]

We have till December of 2019 when we move into our apartment. At that time we hope to sell it and get a small used class C or class B so we can continue to part time travel.

[John_Joey]

mamaw56 wrote:
...These past two years it’s been rockin’ the checkbook. Not much else can happen except the fridge is still kicking. Fingers crossed...

Not trying to scare you, or trying to be a jerk, but many years ago when I worked in a station I would hear this type of statement from a customer on an older vehicle. About 4-8 weeks later they would be back in for a repair. As they paid the bill they would repeat that thought. 4-8 weeks later they would be back again. It seemed to never end.


FWIW, sometimes it makes sense to cut an run. I sold my 96 (then 17 years old) class A which was running like a top when I realized it could no longer run cross country problem free. A nice couple bought it and used it local with their grandkids. For them it's working great. I moved on to a newer truck/5'ver

[wildmanbaker]

mamaw56 wrote:
We’re fulltime, longest we sit is 3 weeks never near salt water. Mechanic looked at it and found a burned wire at one of the connections. He is calling in another mechanic who works on chassis and said theyd replace the starter. My husband has vertigo and the house spins when he looks up so he hasn’t been able to even look at it himself but all the suggestions here sound viable. We’re going to suggest this to the mechanic. After 20 years things start to happen. These past two years it’s been rockin’ the checkbook. Not much else can happen except the fridge is still kicking. Fingers crossed...

I'm confused, why would the RV repairman not be able to replace the starter? Its not like the starter is hard to access. Was the burnt wire repaired or replaced? When I hear thinks like this, it makes me ashamed to have been a mechanic and have run a shop. Do people not have a conscious anymore? Sure, people need to make a living, but come on. Sorry for your problems, I guess I'm just venting.

[Big_Katuna]

My observation is that with all the mechanical difficulties, the motor has been getting cranked often and for long periods.

Few people adhere to the crank 30 seconds, wait 1-2 minutes.

[mamaw56]

We’re fulltime, longest we sit is 3 weeks never near salt water. Mechanic looked at it and found a burned wire at one of the connections. He is calling in another mechanic who works on chassis and said theyd replace the starter. My husband has vertigo and the house spins when he looks up so he hasn’t been able to even look at it himself but all the suggestions here sound viable. We’re going to suggest this to the mechanic. After 20 years things start to happen. These past two years it’s been rockin’ the checkbook. Not much else can happen except the fridge is still kicking. Fingers crossed...

[John_Joey]

If you're in a campground and trying to fix it yourself then I'll also throw out there that it could be your starter solenoid. Normally a cheap and easy fix. Or, it could be a bad ground strap or corrosion on the wires of the starting circuit.

So does this rig have some history behind it that makes it prone to issues. For example, being parked for long times next to salt water?

[mamaw56]

No, we’re in a campground waiting on a mobile RV service to replace starter and ignition switch. Trying to stay away from the dealer if we can.

[tiffy2000]

Perhaps you can find a good garage to service it here:

http://www.rvservicereviews.com/

Good Luck

[John_Joey]

So are you still at a Ford dealership? Thinking they should know if you got a bad starter or not.

[wildmanbaker]

mamaw56 wrote:
So we had the mass air flow sensor replaced again with an after market one as ford doesn’t make the part anymore. The computer was replaced, we also replaced the batteries. Now it won’t start. Got it started after it wouldn’t turn over it just clicked. Finally started and it made a loud gear grinding sound, kind of like when you turn your key on but the car is already running? When the noise stopped the engine ran quiet. Turned it off but now it won’t start. It doesn’t even click. What could it be, were thinking the starter. Is that a reasonable conclusion?

It could have been that starter was hung-up after all the troubleshooting. But, not restarting after shutting it off is an electrical problem that requires in depth knowledge of both Ford chassis and manufacturer wiring for the starting circuit. The Ford supplied starting circuit and wiring is pretty much bullet proof, but the manufacture adds more relays and wiring for their disconnects, and may not be of the same quality. This may be why many Ford dealers do not work on MHs because of changes to the wiring systems.

[tiffy2000]

mamaw56 wrote:
So we had the mass air flow sensor replaced again with an after market one as ford doesn’t make the part anymore. The computer was replaced, we also replaced the batteries. Now it won’t start. Got it started after it wouldn’t turn over it just clicked. Finally started and it made a loud gear grinding sound, kind of like when you turn your key on but the car is already running? When the noise stopped the engine ran quiet. Turned it off but now it won’t start. It doesn’t even click. What could it be, were thinking the starter. Is that a reasonable conclusion?

Yes , I would think starter especially where you heard the gear grinding sound or I suppose an ignition switch might do that if stuck internally in the start position.

Make sure your battery connections are tight , a lot of people forget about the ground ( both ends )

Good luck

[mamaw56]

So we had the mass air flow sensor replaced again with an after market one as ford doesn’t make the part anymore. The computer was replaced, we also replaced the batteries. Now it won’t start. Got it started after it wouldn’t turn over it just clicked. Finally started and it made a loud gear grinding sound, kind of like when you turn your key on but the car is already running? When the noise stopped the engine ran quiet. Turned it off but now it won’t start. It doesn’t even click. What could it be, were thinking the starter. Is that a reasonable conclusion?

[Chum_lee]

amxpress wrote:
If there was an open or short in the MAF circuit, your “Check Engine Light”would come on and a code would be set. If the engine was running well to begin with and you disconnect the MAF sensor, not only will a code be set but the engine will go into a Failsafe mode and will run like ****.
Is the check engine light on? If so, what is the DTC?(Trouble code)

This was my exact thought. Which has yet to be answered. Having the MAF sensor out of range (fouled or failing soon) will also set a code even if it is connected and partially working but sensing/sending gibberish to the ECU.


Chum lee