How to Repair a 1992 Ford Ranger's Air Flow Sensor

The 1992 Ford Rangers engine uses a mass airflow sensor to aid the vehicles computer in correctly adjusting the air-fuel ratio. The mass airflow sensor works by a heated wire that cools at a different rate, depending on how much air passes by it, and the sensor converts this heat loss to a voltage signal for the computer Removing and fixing or replacing the sensor is the same straightforward process for any of the four engines available on the '92 Ford Ranger.

Instructions

Trace the air filter outlet tube toward the passengers side of the engine compartment until you come to the electrical component connecting the outlet tube to the air filter box. This is the mass airflow sensor.

Loosen the hose clamp connecting the air filter outlet tube to the sensor, using a flathead screwdriver. Pull the air filter outlet tube from the mass airflow sensor.

Press and hold the unlocking button on the sensors wiring harness and unplug the wiring harness from the sensor.

Remove the four bolts securing the mass airflow sensor, using a ratchet and socket, and remove the sensor and the air filter box from the engine compartment. Remove the sensor gasket and discard it.

Look inside the mass airflow sensors tube and find the small tube near the top. Find the hotwire, the wire spanning the width of this small tube.

Hold the mass airflow sensor over a drain pan with the tube facing down toward the pan.

Spray the hotwire for about 30 to 45 seconds with parts cleaner. Do not scrub the wire, as it breaks relatively easily. Allow the mass airflow sensor to sit for about 10 minutes as the parts cleaner dries.

Clean the mass airflow sensors mating surface on the air filter box. Insert the four sensor bolts through the bolt holes in the sensor and set the new mass airflow sensor gasket on the bolts.

Guide the mass airflowsensor onto its mounting studs on the air filter box and hand-thread its retaining bolts. Torque the bolts to 7 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.

Plug the wiring harness into the mass airflow sensors receptacle. Press the air filter outlet tube onto the sensor and tighten its hose clamp to 3 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.

Start the truck and verify that the hotwire cleaning solved you mass airlfow sensor issues. If this did not resolve the problems, repeat the section titled Removal, then steps 1 through 3 in the section titled Installation and Testing to install a new mass airflow sensor.