Clean Mass Air Flow Sensor?

[needs_help]

I was thinking of cleaning my mass air flow sensor in case the contacts are coated with grime. Has anyone done this? Any downsides? Can you describe how you popped it out? Thanks

[DaveRT]

Is your CEL on? If it's on are you getting a code for the Mass Airflow Sensor?
If not then the MAS is working as it should.
I don't believe that sensor is a maintaince item so, for me, it falls into the catagory "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".
Should you ever get the CEL for the MAS then try cleaning it before replacing it but I would not clean it "just because".
If you do decide to clean it, for whatever reason, then go to an auto parts store and get the aersol cleaner speciffically for MAS use and follow the instructions on the can.

[needs_help]

My CEL is on and it's an air fuel sensor on the firewall side of the exhaust manifold (bank1sensor1) that is giving problems. Unfortunately it is very tough to reach and I haven't found a good set of step-by-step directions yet as to how to access it. In the meantime I thought I might clean the MAF to see if that helps at all, since isn't it easy to reach?

I have the P1130, P1135 and sometimes P1153 OBD codes.

[DaveRT]

The "air/fuel" sensor is just another name for an O2 sensor. They measure the ratio of unburnt fuel to 02 present in the exhaust. There's usually one in the manifold and one after the cat. The engine computer uses this info to help determine how rich/lean the engine is running. It has nothing to do with the MAS, which simply measures the volume of air going into the throttle body. Cleaning the MAS will have no effect on the readings from the 02 sensors.
If you want a complete set of directions to r&r the 02 sensor then buy a FSM or get a Haynes manual. Both tell how to make that repair.
W/o the book in front of me I believe that the 02 sensor can be reached from under the car. It will be a difficult, tight job but that's true any way you go at it as it's just in a hard to reach spot. You will need a special socket designed to remove 02 sensors though. Other than that it's just standard tools. Other than the difficulty in reaching it, it's a simple job. Disco the wiring connector, unscrew the sensor, screw in the new one and reconnect the wiring - simple. Except for reaching the part.
Sorry, don't have time to look up what the other codes mean. If you look them up and post I'll try to help.

[needs_help]

thanks for the advice DaveRT. The part of changing the sensor that makes me the most uncomfortable is determining the safest way to jack up the car. How can you make sure the car wouldn't fall? Or is there enough clearance underneath the car that someone could reach under there or slide under there to do the work without jacking up the car?

[DaveRT]

You jack it up like you would any car. Chock the rear wheels. I do both in front and in back of the wheel - I admit that's kinda overkill but it is my butt under there soooo....
Anyway then just jack up each side in the front, the owners manual will give you the jacking points, and put a good jack stand under each side to support it. Boom, done. Takes about 5 minutes with a good floor jack.
And, no, I don't see how anyone who is not seriously anorexic could fit under it with the van on the ground.