My MAF sensor only has one screw, can it be removed without removing the body

[barrys]

On my 94 Ranger 3.0 the MAF sensor is attached to the aluminum body with one security torx screw and some stud thingy with plastic in the center. I was thinking of cleaning it. Can it be taken off without removing the aluminum body it's attached to for cleaning?
I read this (awesome) article:
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/CleanMAF.html
But, that one has the attachment with 2 torx screws so the sensor can be removed and the elements are exposed.

Then there's this post on an aerostar on the eplorerforum which looks a lot like the setup I have:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2517380

Maybe that's it.

 

[James86]

The "stud" is actually another torx screw with a drip of plastic in it so when your vehicle gets inspected they know if you tinkered with the MAF. It turns with a pair of pliers or if you're ambitious you can pick out the plastic. Otherwise, typically you don't need to remove the filament/sensor assembly to clean it.

 

[barrys]

Thanks James86:
> typically you don't need to remove the filament/sensor assembly to clean it.
Does this mean that it's better to just pull the whole thing off with the body and clean it that way?
I guess I should just ask, how do I clean it?
Do I really have to clean it if I'm not throwing any codes and always run a clean, stock air filter?

 

[modelageek]

Thanks James86:
> typically you don't need to remove the filament/sensor assembly to clean it.
Does this mean that it's better to just pull the whole thing off with the body and clean it that way?
I guess I should just ask, how do I clean it?
Do I really have to clean it if I'm not throwing any codes and always run a clean, stock air filter?

I would remove it as instructed above. You buy a can of MAF cleaner for $6. make sure you clean it when it is cool. then let it dry before reinstalling. DO NOT LET ANYTHING BUT THE SPRAY TOUCH THE FILAMENT.

 

[barrys]

I took off the whole maf and removed that little cover inside the MAF to expose both sides of the chute that the filaments sit in. I sprayed twice with MAF cleaner, waited 5 minutes, sprayed twice, waited 5 minutes, and waited 20 minutes for it to dry. Then I put it back together and reinstalled. Took a total of a little over 30 minutes which was mostly spent doing other stuff while waiting. After 127K, there was no visible dirt or residue on the filaments or in the body tube.
Result? No change in anything which is good and bad. Nothing was really wrong before so no harm, no foul.

 

[kevinsranger]

i took a pair of pliers, broke it loose, then took my dremmel and cut a slot in the head for a flat head screwdriver so next time i only need simple tools to clean it

 

[barrys]

That seems like it would totally work. But, removing it with the body only took a few minutes and the one thing I liked about that is that the tube in the body that surrounds the filaments protects it from me touching it or damage by dropping it.
Anyway, it didn't do crap. I'm pretty sure it didn't require cleaning. At least it didn't break.