2001 Ranger XLT 3.0, Automatic, Engine Code V.
Does anyone know of any procedure to test the MAF sensor on this vehicle?? The symptoms I'm having, rough idle on startup, very poor acceleration from a standing start, reduced fuel economy in ciy driving,all indicate the MAF sensor is malfunctioning. At highway speeds it's OK. I have new plugs, plug wires, fuel filter, air filter, fuel pressure is fine. On take off from a dead stopwith WOT the check engine light will blink but it's not storing any codes.
At 300 bucks for a new one I don't want to "Shotgun" troubleshoot this problem. Any ideas???. I'd appreciate them.

 

MAF connector pin 5 (LB/RD)voltage/s.....Hot Idle-.8-1.1 30MPH 1.4-1.7 55MPH 2-2.5

Did you check/test TPS, EGR,and check for unmetered air entering the intake..

 

Is this more of an unstable/rolling idle, or a hard misfire on idle/accel?

 

I checked the voltage at hot idle. It starts out around 2.5 and settles down to around 1.3. I haven't found anyone fast enough to run alongside at 35 and 55 mph to checks those values although it runs fine at those speeds. I'll work on it.
No I haven't checked out the EGR or TPS. Unfortunately, the Haynes manual I have doesn't tell me how to check ANYTHING. But, it doesn't have any symptoms of a malfunctioning EGR valve. No pinging or any of that. The TPS being mechanically driven I would think would be less prone to failure than the MAF sensor which I understand Ford had a lot of problems with in the preceding years.
On a cold idle, it's an uneven running. On take off when it's coldit sort of stumbles a bit until I put my foot in it. It gets slightly better when it warms up completely but on a hard takeoff from a dead stop I get an occasional misfire. Doesn't last long. And as I said, there's no pinging at all.
Maybe I just got a bad set of plugs.(Bosch Platinum) It ran like a dream until 3 weeks ago and then this started.
I'm open to any checks and balances anyone has to offer and I appreciate the quick response I've received so far



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I have completed the road test with the following results.
35 MPH on cruise for at least a mile; 1.9
55 MPH on cruise for at least a mile; 2.4
Hot idle after a 10 mile run in August in Florida; 1.3
Only the value at 55 mph meets the values you gave me and it's on the high sideand as I said, it runs fine at that speed


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