by Jonathan » Wed Jul 06, 2005 7:52 pm
Check the IAT (intake air temperature) sensor. I believe your Explorer used the same injection system as that era 5.0s, where the MAF sensor itself is a temperature sensor anyway, so you could call it the MAF sensor. I think Ford called it an air charge temp sensor or something along those lines, can't remember. Coolant temperature sensor is another possibility. Usually the IAT sensor is the likely culprit, but in the case that either one of those is faulty, the results are the same. Usually you'll have an open circuit on the sensor and the computer translates this as a very cold temperature (like -40F), since air is very dense and oxygen rich at that temperature, the computer adds fuel and runs rich to compensate. You may want to have it checked, a mechanic or qualified should know the approximate voltage that the sensor should produce at a certain temperature. You're really only checking if it has a voltage to begin with anyway, but it's good to know if it's accurate. If that's not the problem, the 02 sensor is always a likely cause. Of course, you'll want to clean your throttle body and replace your spark plugs after you get this fixed, maybe even take it down a country road and blow it out :)
Check the IAT (intake air temperature) sensor. I believe your Explorer used the same injection system as that era 5.0s, where the MAF sensor itself is a temperature sensor anyway, so you could call it the MAF sensor. I think Ford called it an air charge temp sensor or something along those lines, can't remember. Coolant temperature sensor is another possibility. Usually the IAT sensor is the likely culprit, but in the case that either one of those is faulty, the results are the same. Usually you'll have an open circuit on the sensor and the computer translates this as a very cold temperature (like -40F), since air is very dense and oxygen rich at that temperature, the computer adds fuel and runs rich to compensate. You may want to have it checked, a mechanic or qualified should know the approximate voltage that the sensor should produce at a certain temperature. You're really only checking if it has a voltage to begin with anyway, but it's good to know if it's accurate. If that's not the problem, the 02 sensor is always a likely cause. Of course, you'll want to clean your throttle body and replace your spark plugs after you get this fixed, maybe even take it down a country road and blow it out :)