Does a 1996 Ford Taurus 3.0 have a hot wire type mass air flow sensor or a vane type? Would spraying carb cleaner into the MAF fix the problem of hard cold engine start? Once the engine warms up does the oxygen sensor compensate for the MAF?

p0102 is MAF mass air flow , circuit low input. Try these to reset code by trying following.
Verify that the Mass Air Flow Sensor wiring is connected properly and that there are no broken / frayed wires. Inspect for any air leaks near the MAF sensor. Take the MAF out and clean it using a spray cleaner such as brake cleaner or electrical contact cleaner. Be gentle with the sensor. Check the voltage of the MAF sensor (refer to a repair manual for vehicle specific information) Replace the MAF sensor.
P0121 Throttle Position Sensor/Switch A Circuit Range/Performance Problem
P0108 EGR Barometric Pressure Sensor Input Signal is out of self test Range. P0300 Random Misfire Detected.

Mass flow sensor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_flow_sensor
WikipediaJump to Hot wire sensor (MAF) - )[edit]. A hot wire mass airflow sensor determines the mass of air flowing into the engine's air intake system.‎Moving vane meter - ‎Hot wire sensor (MAF) - ‎Coldwire sensor

A mass (air) flow sensor (MAF) is used to find out the mass flowrate of air entering a fuel-injected internal combustion engine.
The air mass information is necessary for the engine control unit (ECU) to balance and deliver the correct fuel mass to the engine. Air changes its density as it expands and contracts with temperature and pressure. In automotive applications, air density varies with the ambient temperature, altitude and the use of forced induction, which means that mass flow sensors are more appropriate than volumetric flow sensors for determining the quantity of intake air in each cylinder. (See stoichiometry and ideal gas law.)
There are two common types of mass airflow sensors in use on automotive engines. These are the vane meter and the hot wire. Neither design employs technology that measures air mass directly. However, with additional sensors and inputs, an engine's ECU can determine the mass flowrate of intake air.
Both approaches are used almost exclusively on electronic fuel injection (EFI) engines. Both sensor designs output a 0.0-5.0 volt or a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal that is proportional to the air mass flow rate, and both sensors have an intake air temperature (IAT) sensor incorporated into their housings for most post OBDII vehicles. Vehicles prior to 1996 could have MAF without an IAT. An example is 1994 Infiniti Q45.
When a MAF sensor is used in conjunction with an oxygen sensor, the engine's air/fuel ratio can be controlled very accurately. The MAF sensor provides the open-loop controller predicted air flow information (the measured air flow) to the ECU, and the oxygen sensor provides closed-loop feedback in order to make minor corrections to the predicted air mass.

Before replacing the mass air flow sensor, try replacing the air filter and cleaning the air flow sensor with low compress air or mass air flow sensor cleaner. Reset code and drive vehicle. Check for air leaks on or around any intake pipework using a good spraying of carb cleaner, if the engine surges then that's the leak. Check wiring to Maf and if the inside is dirty, again use carb cleaner liberally...NOTE: do not use Wd40... If the code comes back, it may be necessary to replaced the mass air flow sensor.

It's called a MAF sensor. You can clean the short heated wires inside with a can of spray carb cleaner. Do not touch the wires. They get coatedwith varnish and make the car hesitate. Sometimes turns on CEL light, DTC codes P0171 or 74.

4 nuts hold the housing on.

Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor The mass air flow sensor (MAF sensor) (12B579) :

• is located between the engine air cleaner (ACL) (9600) and the throttle body (9E926) .
• uses a hot wire sensing element to measure the amount of air entering the engine. Air passing over the hot wire causes it to cool.
• sends an analog voltage signal to the powertrain control module (PCM) (12A650) to determine the intake air mass. The powertrain control module will then calculate the required fuel injector pulse width in order to provide the desired air/fuel ratio.

The mass air flow sensor hot wire sensing element and housing are calibrated as a unit and must be serviced as a complete assembly.

P0102 OBD-II Trouble Code - Mass Air Flow (MAF) Circuit Low Input

What does that mean?
Basically this means that there is a problem with the Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor or circuit. A more technical description would be that the MAF circuit had lower than expected voltage (air flow). Other MAF sensor circuit DTC trouble codes are P0100, P0101, P0103, and P0104.

Symptoms
You will likely not notice any serious drivability problems, although there may be symptoms such as a general decrease in power or sluggishness.

Causes
A code P0102 may mean that one or more of the following has happened:
* The MAF may be disconnected, or a wiring connection may be bad
* The MAF may be dirty or otherwise contaminated (Note: if you use a reusable oiled air filter, be careful not to apply too much oil or that can contaminate the MAF).
* The MAF sensor may be faulty
* The vehicle computer may be faulty (very rare)

Possible Solutions
The simplest thing to do is to reset the code and see if it comes back. Then start with the cheapest, easiest repair procedures:
* Verify that the Mass Air Flow Sensor wiring is connected properly and that there are no broken / frayed wires.
* Inspect for any air leaks near the MAF sensor.
* Take the MAF out and clean it using a spray cleaner such as brake cleaner or electrical contact cleaner. Be gentle with the sensor.
* Check the voltage of the MAF sensor (refer to a repair manual for vehicle specific information)
* Replace the MAF sensor.

Hope help with this (remember rated this post).

You can test the MAF before replacing. It may be a problem with the circuit itself or just a fluke from another problem that is connected to this sensor.

There are two basic types of mass airflow sensors: hot wire and hot film. In the first type, a very thin wire (about 0.2 mm thick) is used as the heated element.
Components of a hot wire-type mass airflow sensor. Courtesy of Ford Motor Company. The element temperature is set at 100° to 200°C above incoming air temperature. Each time the ignition switch is turned to the off position, the wire is heated to approximately 1,000°C for 1 second to burn off any accumulated dust and contaminants.
The second type uses a nickel foil sensor, which is kept 75°C above ambient air temperatures. It does not require a burn-off period and therefore is potentially longer lasting than the hot wire type.
A faulty MAF will cause driveability problems resulting from incorrect ignition timing and improper air/fuel ratios.
Vane-type MAF Sensors
A vane-type MAF sensor is found on many import and domestic vehicles with EFI. All intake air must flow through the sensor. Some MAF sensors are called volume air flow meters

• Begin checking a vane-type MAF sensor by checking the voltage supply wire and the ground wire to the MAF module before checking the sensor voltage signal.
• Always follow the recommended test procedure in the manufacturer's service manual and use the specifications supplied by the manufacturer.
• Typically, to test the sensor, a digital multimeter (DMM) is used and set on a DC voltage scale. The negative meter lead is connected to ground and the red lead to the MAF signal wire.

A voltmeter connected to measure the signal from a MAF sensor. Reproduced with permission from Fluke Corporation.

• Turn on the ignition switch and press the min/max button, if available, on the DMM.
• Slowly push the MAF vane from the closed to the wide-open position, and allow the vane to slowly return to the closed position.

Move the MAF sensor air vane from open to close to test it. Reproduced with permission from Fluke Corporation.

• Observe the maximum and minimum voltage readings as the vane was moved.
• If the minimum voltage signal is zero, there may be an open circuit in the MAF sensor variable resistor.
• When the voltage signal is not within the manufacturer's specifications, replace the sensor.

WARNING While pushing the mass air flow sensor vane open and closed, be careful not to mark or damage the vane or sensor housing.

• Some vehicle manufacturers specify ohmmeter tests for the MAF sensor.
• With the MAF sensor removed, connect the ohmmeter across the sensor's output and input terminals.

Ohmmeter connections to a MAF sensor. Reprinted with permission.

• The resistance at these terminals is normally 200 to 600 ohms.
• Connect the ohmmeter leads to the specified MAF sensor terminals, and move the vane from the fully closed to the fully open position.
• With each specified meter connection and vane position, the ohmmeter should indicate the specified resistance.

Resistance specifications for a typical MAF sensor with door open and closed. Reprinted with permission.

• When the ohmmeter leads are connected to the sensor's input and output terminals, the ohmmeter reading should increase smoothly as the sensor vane is opened and closed.
• To check a vane-type MAF with a lab scope, connect the positive lead to the output signal terminal and the negative scope lead to a good ground.
• This type MAF should display an analog voltage signal when the engine is accelerated. A defective MAF will have sudden and erratic voltage changes.

The trace of a defective vane-type MAF sensor. Reproduced with permission from Fluke Corporation. Hot-Wire-Type MAF Sensors
The test procedure for heated resistor and hot-wire MAF sensors varies depending on the vehicle make and year. Always follow the test procedure in the appropriate service manual. A frequency test may be performed on some MAF sensors, such as the AC Delco MAF on some General Motors' products.

• To check the MAF sensor's voltage signal and frequency, connect a voltmeter across the MAF voltage signal wire and ground wire.
• Start the engine and observe the voltmeter reading.
• On some MAF sensors, this reading should be 2.5 volts.
• Lightly tap the MAF sensor housing with a screwdriver handle and watch the voltmeter pointer.
• If the pointer fluctuates or the engine misfires, replace the MAF sensor.
• Some MAF sensors have experienced loose internal connections, which cause erratic voltage signals and engine misfiring and surging.
• Set the DMM so that it can read the frequency of DC voltage.
• With it still connected to the signal wire and ground, the meter should read about 30 Hz with the engine idling.
• Now, increase the engine speed, and record the meter reading at various speeds.
• Graph the frequency readings. The MAF sensor frequency should increase smoothly and gradually in relation to engine speed.
• If the MAF sensor frequency reading is erratic, replace the sensor.

Satisfactory and unsatisfactory MAF sensor frequency readings. Reproduced with permission from Fluke Corporation.

• When a scanner is used to diagnose a General Motors' vehicle, one test mode displays grams per second from the MAF sensor. This mode provides an accurate test of the MAF sensor.
• The grams per second reading should be 4 to 7 with the engine idling.
• This reading should gradually increase as the engine speed increases.
• When the engine speed is constant, the grams-per-second reading should remain constant.
• If the grams-per-second reading is erratic at a constant engine speed or if this reading varies when the sensor is tapped lightly, the sensor is defective.
• A MAF sensor fault code may not be present with an erratic grams-per-second reading, but the erratic reading indicates a defective sensor.
• Frequency-varying types of MAF sensors can be tested with a lab scope.
• The waveform should appear as a series of square waves.

A normal trace for a frequency-varying MAF sensor. Courtesy of Progressive Diagnostics--WaveFile AutoPro.

• When the engine speed and intake air flow increases, the frequency of the MAF sensor signals should increase smoothly and proportionately to the change in engine speed.
• If the MAF or connecting wires is defective, the trace will show an erratic change in frequency.

The trace of a defective frequency-varying MAF sensor. Courtesy of EDGE Diagnostics Systems.

There is also a
Mass Air Flow (MAF) Burn-Off Module Operation:
A semi-conductor control for an electronic-ignition system.

clean the MAF sensor heated wires inside MAF with carb cleaner gently with a toothbush first. Then disconnect battery for 1 hour and reconnect and drive for 10 miles so computer can relearn clean MAF sensor.

Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor The mass air flow sensor (MAF sensor) (12B579) :

• is located between the engine air cleaner (ACL) (9600) and the throttle body (9E926) .
• uses a hot wire sensing element to measure the amount of air entering the engine. Air passing over the hot wire causes it to cool.
• sends an analog voltage signal to the powertrain control module (PCM) (12A650) to determine the intake air mass. The powertrain control module will then calculate the required fuel injector pulse width in order to provide the desired air/fuel ratio.

The mass air flow sensor hot wire sensing element and housing are calibrated as a unit and must be serviced as a complete assembly.

I would use 10W40 in the 96 and 5W20 or 30 in the 2002.

For the 96 with sluggishness, you need to gently clean the MAF sensor wires with carb cleaner and a toothbrush. It is in the air intake tube. After cleaning, disconnect the battery for 1/2 hour, then reconnect so the computer can relearn the clean sensor. Drive for 10 miles, it will run rough until it relearns.


Section 03-14: Engine Controls, Electronic 1996 Town Car, Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis Workshop Manual
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor The mass air flow sensor (MAF sensor) (12B579):

• is mounted on the corner of the engine air cleaner (ACL) (9600).
• uses a hot wire sensing element to measure the amount of air entering the engine; air passing over the hot wire causes it to cool.
• sends out an analog voltage signal to the PCM (12A650) to determine the intake air mass. The PCM will then calculate the required fuel injector pulse width to provide the desired air/fuel ratio.

The mass air flow sensor hot wire sensing element and housing are calibrated as a unit and must be serviced as a complete assembly.

Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor

The MAF (Mass Air Flow) sensor is located in the air inlet tube (air filter housing). You want to clean it, i am giving you a link that is perfect for MAF locating and cleaning.If it is completely out of performance, change it.If it requires cleaning, use electric parts cleaner spray. maf