2003 Ford Focus came into the shop today. Check engine light is on and it has a trouble code P0103. In English it translates into a mass air flow sensor signal high voltage return. In real English it means the powertrain control module or the engine computer is seeing a high voltage signal when it shouldn't and/or it is beyond its maximum range. Let the diagnosis begin....
Scan tool data is a big help sometimes. While driving I was able to observe two things. A very bad flat spot in the accelleration of the vehicle and a mass air flow reading over the scale. Something was broken and I mean big time. The next step was to pin test the signal, power and ground to the MAF sensor while also inspecting it. On this particualr Ford Focus the air filter housing, which the MAF is attached to, is located down low in the left front bumper wheel house area. The air intake duct sits slightly lower than the license plate and the entire assemlby is removed almost as one piece. Here's where it gets interesting. While trying to remove the air box I started to take a shower. As in water was leaking and dripping out of the box. "Hmmm, this can't be good". Sure enough when I got the box and ducts out on the ground the air box with the air filter assembly had 2 quarts of water in it. Which explains why I was seeing water all the way through the air intake system leading up to the throttle plate. On further examination I also found where the chipmunk was living because there were acorns, nuts and straw in the air box as well. So what must have happened is that with the air intake duct being low and the critter living in it the air box drain got clogged with crud and the water backed up ruining the air filter and MAF sensor. Simple, right?
Now we get to the even funnier part of the story. Turns out Mrs. O has a son who just so happens to work for Ford in the, yep, you guessed it, engineering department. He works on the Explorer and Mountaineer product line. After talking to Pete this afternoon I promised him I would send him the bad parts and he will forward them to the correct engineer for review.
I'm glad its not me. Imagine working in the department that designed something that failed (ok, I agree due to the animal intrustion this has unusual circumstances) and are you ready for this...costs over $450 just for the part. That's right! For the replacement air filter, MAF sensor and related PLASTIC duct work its over $450. Bet Pete's Mom yells at someone a long time for that one. Maybe it will help the engineer get his "focus" back. At least the chipmunk had a nice place to live....
In a previous blog, “A Runners Wife” I spoke about my husband training for the NYC marathon. All I have to say is that the months of training all came together of an amazing race. Race day is a grueling day for runners, and the family. But a miracle happened...
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder testified before the senate judiciary committee and basically shrugged when asked if any other enemy combatant captured overseas had ever been brought to civilian criminal court to face justice. Talk about an incompetent boob, not to mention a disgrace.
Here is a list of wines all from Spain, and menus from restaurants in Brooklyn where a crew of us did a food / wine crawl through Carrol Gardens and Williamsburg recently
E-Mail Story
Print Story
