Thanks for responding, and thanks to everyone else who responded to my questions. It is an '01.

I've cleaned the sensor and now have reinstalled it. Interestingly, I was now able to turn off the check engine light with my OBD reader. Before I could not. Hopefully that's a good sign :-)

I'll be taking it for a ride this afternoon to see if I feel any difference in power.

Hopefully the check engine light will not return.

 

Just spent the last 45 minutes trying to get the damn security torx screws out. Got one out using a flat head screw driver method but other wont budge. Mine are definitely #20 size tho so I guess Ill attempt this tomorrow with the required bits.

 

What brand was your replacement? Cardone? Hitachi (my current choice)? Spectra? Any difference?

 

I actually cleaned my 08 MAF today. Doesn't bog at 3000 rpm anymore. It take of 30 minutes. Thanks

 

I am getting the P0100 code and it brought me here. My Max 2001 has been sitting for about 2 yrs with infrequent periods of running it during repairs mostly. I know it was replaced before being stored so it's not the original at least. Can cleaning it help and is it possible it's the culprit for this code as opposed to something else? It's also throwing codes for the Evap system but I have replaced the canister and not reset yet

 

Looks like the 5th gen here has two different type MAF' s.
ONE with a wire(external) and another with a wire(internal).
Most of the 5th gen owners have the wire inside the MAF
The OP looks like he's got the MAF with the wire on the outside.
He doesn't specify regarding the other one.

I had issues after spraying the stuff in mine.
I get a backfire occasionally.
Also when I hit 3000 RPM's in fourth gear is it? at 60MPH the acceleration begins to flatten out.
If I let off the pedal then begin accelaration again it breaks through.
Also a lot of flat spots during acceleration now.
I guess I'll just drive it and maybe these issues will disappear!

 

The 02/03 cars have the diode on the outside of the MAF that reads the intake air temp.

The 00/01 cars have a separate intake air temp sensor mounted before the air filter box and no diode on the outside of the MAF.

Both MAFs are the same inside.

 

I tried revving the motor to 5000 rpms. I held it there for about 10 seconds i dont recommend this but thinking it might help but still some sputtering, hard start, & occational backfire.
I have an A/T so the rpms never get up that high unless I'm doing 100mph.
Oh well it drives nice aside from that. I guess the backfire, sputter is connected to the hard start.
If I take my back seat out and run the motor I can really hear the sputtering. I doubt it's the motor. It's got to be the FPR.

 

The MAF cleaner worked good but I'm getting 98 degrees on the engine temp sensor before I even start up.
I hooked up Data Scan. At first I didn't think it seemed unusual but It's 75-85 degrees out. It's unusual that the engine temp is higher than the outside temp.
So this may be why I'm having issues at start up.