2002 Ford Escape - MAF

Tiny
WZVRTB
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 FORD ESCAPE
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 40,830 MILES
I have a 2002 Ford Escape with only 40,000 miles. I treat it like my baby, oil changes every 3 months, at 21,000 miles had all the fluids changed, etc. When I start it up, I run it for about 2-3 minutes to warm it up in cold weather. But in July 2010 it started giving me problems starting up and the mechanic diagnosed the Mass Air Flow Sensor which he replaced (TWICE). Then it started stalling out at red lights, when I stopped and sometimes it took me 20 minutes for the MAF to kick in so the car could drive. I took it to another mechanic who had to do a rewiring of the MAF after the Engine Light came on with a code. Now it starts up great under any weather conditions, hot or cold. IT RAN OK FOR ABOUT A MONTH BUT RECENTLY IT INTERMITTANTLY STALLED AT A STOP SIGN OR A RED LIGHT, STUMBLES AND DRIVES ROUGH, HAS LOW ACCELERATION AND LOW POWER. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTANTLY. THE MECHANIC RAN A VALIDATION TEST AND DROVE IT FOR ABOUT 10 MILES AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH IT. IT REALLY DRIVES A LITTLE ROUGH IN STOP & GO TRAFFIC. ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 50 MPH, ITS NOT BAD. I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR 7 MONTHS AND SPENT APPROX. $1200 ON REPAIRS. I'VE BEEN THINKING OF TRADING IT IN FOR ANOTHER SUV BUT MY SON AND THE MECHANIC TELL ME NOT TO DO IT BECAUSE OF THE LOW MILEAGE AND THE GREAT CONDITION ITS IN, EXCEPT FOR THE MAF. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME TODAY HE CANNOT KEEP GUESSING ON THE PROBLEM. THE STALLING HAS TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY SO HE CAN DIAGONOSE THE PROBLEM AND DEAL WITH IT. I FEEL VERY NERVOUS DRIVING THE SUV AND I WISH IT WERE BACK BEFORE THE MAF PROBLEMS. WHAT COULD IT BE? HELP. NEED A CAR I CAN DEPEND ON.
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Sunday, December 12th, 2010 AT 1:04 AM

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Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
OUR SPARK PLUGS HAD SUPPOSEDLY BEEN CHANGED JUST PRIOR TO US GETTING MY WIFES RIGNOOOOOOOOOOOT!

CAUSED A BUNCH OF JERKINESS WHILE RUNNING--THEY WERE ALSO WAY OVER-GAPPED, THE PLASTIC INTAKE PLENUM DEALEE HAD TO BE REMOVE TO ACCESS THE OTHER 3

ALSO REMOVING AND CLEANING THE EGR HELPED TO

THIS WAS ANOTHER PROBLEM WE HAD:

Our Escape would idle low, then it got to point it would die when you stopped. Revving + holding brake was only way to keep it running. Took it to fellow R/C airplane pilot, he doubles as a S.C. State HWY DEPT mechanic.. When I got to his house, he was repairing a tractor. Told him my sob story. Escape was still barely running, I raised the hood. He said, (and I quote)."It could be the IDLE AIR CONTROL(IAC)", as he pointed to it, and emphasied it with a sharp rap using the wrench in his hand. It straightened right up, and ran damn good. That was a 15/16 Craftsman wrench, box end, kinda a medium rap. YES, I visited parts store and replaced it.

THIS IS WHERE IT IS ON MINE, AND YOU WILL SEE HOW EZ IT IS TO DO

IAC WAS NEVER MENTIONED IN YOUR QUESTION 'LESS I MISSED IT!---NOT TOO EXPENSIVE EITHER

I HOPE THIS EZily GETS YOU GOING

YOUR TURN

THE MEDIC
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Sunday, December 12th, 2010 AT 2:29 AM

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