Wont start - i screwed something up

[djrazr]

So my 95 SR5 4WD was running great until i screwed something up.

On top of the air box, i unplugged the maf connector i think its called, looking for the maf sensor. I unplugged the connector, and unscrewed the 2 screws that held what i thought was the sensor in place. I guess my car does not have a maf sensor, so i plugged everything back in.

At first she wouldnt start. She would turn but not catch. I again did the above and disconnecting the battery. After 10 minutes, i hooked everything back up again. She started but had the roughest idle, and black smoke was coming out the exhaust. I had the check engine light, oil temp and battery lights flashing on and off, as she went up and down staying on. I was watching the needle jump up and down all under 1000 rpms.

I did notice that when i looked at the plug. All the metal clips were there except for one. I dont know if that's normal or not

I screwed something up and need help ASAP. I should of left it alone

 

[evilsanta2]

Sounds like you messed up something with the MAF sensor. You do have one....
What where you trying to get at the sensor for? When you unscrewed the two screws, what did you see/do/touch?

 

[drmorbius]

So my 95 SR5 4WD was running great until i screwed something up.

On top of the air box, i unplugged the maf connector i think its called, looking for the maf sensor. I unplugged the connector, and unscrewed the 2 screws that held what i thought was the sensor in place. I guess my car does not have a maf sensor, so i plugged everything back in.

At first she wouldnt start. She would turn but not catch. I again did the above and disconnecting the battery. After 10 minutes, i hooked everything back up again. She started but had the roughest idle, and black smoke was coming out the exhaust. I had the check engine light, oil temp and battery lights flashing on and off, as she went up and down staying on. I was watching the needle jump up and down all under 1000 rpms.

I did notice that when i looked at the plug. All the metal clips were there except for one. I dont know if that's normal or not

I screwed something up and need help ASAP. I should of left it alone

Did you pull the MAF out ? If you did you may have broken the "O" ring that seals it to the tube causing an air leak.

 

[djrazr]

Sounds like you messed up something with the MAF sensor. You do have one....
What where you trying to get at the sensor for? When you unscrewed the two screws, what did you see/do/touch?

I was wanting to clean the sensor. When i removed the 2 small screws, i slightly pulled on the plastic piece to remove it, and i seen some pins and wires. It didnt look right, so i screwed it back in

How important is the safety pin that connects the harness? When i first tried to remove it, the connection was very tight. When i re-used the safety pin, it was much looser

 

[djrazr]

Re: Re: Wont start - i screwed something up

Did you pull the MAF out ? If you did you may have broken the "O" ring that seals it to the tube causing an air leak.

I dont think i got that far. I just tried to clean the sensor. Read previous post

 

[evilsanta2]

I believe, that the part you pulled off is the wires that are soldered to the MAF. Or at least it's to do with wires....I remember someone telling me about this when I had problems with my MAF sensor.
Hopefully you didn't damage the wires on the MAF sensor....or if you did, hopefully you/someone you know can solder the wires back on.
Again, this is my guess, and all I'm going off of is past experiences.

 

[djrazr]

I believe, that the part you pulled off is the wires that are soldered to the MAF. Or at least it's to do with wires....I remember someone telling me about this when I had problems with my MAF sensor.
Hopefully you didn't damage the wires on the MAF sensor....or if you did, hopefully you/someone you know can solder the wires back on.
Again, this is my guess, and all I'm going off of is past experiences.

I think your right. Stupid me! Well i didnt pull off the wires, i dont think i did, because i softly pulled on it, and the wires seem to be intact. Here is a pic of the 2 screws i undid. Since i screwed this up, what can i do? Is this fixable, or do i have to buy a whole new MAF sensor? I now realiize the MAF sensor is whole huge thing that this sat on top of
<a href="http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f387/flxzx9r/?action=view&current=IMG_1054.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f387/flxzx9r/IMG_1054.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[evilsanta2]

Well, if it WAS the wires, I believe they are soldered onto a circuit board of some sort. If a wire has been torn off, it can be re-soldered.
I'll let someone else come in and say if they think it is the same problem as I do.

 

[djrazr]

I just pulled the top lid of the air box off, with the maf sensor still attached. Waiting for an answer to see what i can do

 

[djrazr]

Found out i dont have a MAF. I have an AFM. Reading around and gonna cut the sealant around the top, peel it off and check it out. Hopefully i can solder it, if not, off to the junkyard i go

Toyota never should have put screws there because those screws should never be removed.They should have put rivets or welded it shut

 

[drmorbius]

Found out i dont have a MAF. I have an AFM. Reading around and gonna cut the sealant around the top, peel it off and check it out. Hopefully i can solder it, if not, off to the junkyard i go

Toyota never should have put screws there because those screws should never be removed.They should have put rivets or welded it shut

You mentioned that you noticed a missing contact on the plug that you removed. How many wires come in to the plug? Look at the socket that the plug came out of is there a contact stuck on the matching pin?

 

[djrazr]

You mentioned that you noticed a missing contact on the plug that you removed. How many wires come in to the plug? Look at the socket that the plug came out of is there a contact stuck on the matching pin?

I opened up the lid on the AFM. All the soldering looks good and the other wires are all connected, so it looks like nothing came undone.

As far as the plug i removed, Here is what it looks like. I took off the rubber covering around the plug, and there are only 6 wires. So this plug here is fine. So this plug and the AMF look fine. Everything looks in place. Now my question is, how important is the clip that holds the harness onto the AMF? I tried reusing the old clip and the connection is a little loose, which might be the problem. Where do i get one of these clips. Every auto place i called never seen or heard of it. Something i can use in it's place?
<a href="http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f387/flxzx9r/?action=view&current=plug.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f387/flxzx9r/plug.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[drmorbius]

I opened up the lid on the AFM. All the soldering looks good and the other wires are all connected, so it looks like nothing came undone.

As far as the plug i removed, Here is what it looks like. I took off the rubber covering around the plug, and there are only 6 wires. So this plug here is fine. So this plug and the AMF look fine. Everything looks in place. Now my question is, how important is the clip that holds the harness onto the AMF? I tried reusing the old clip and the connection is a little loose, which might be the problem. Where do i get one of these clips. Every auto place i called never seen or heard of it. Something i can use in it's place?
<a href="http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f387/flxzx9r/?action=view&current=plug.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f387/flxzx9r/plug.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Have you tried the dealer? You might spray some contact cleaner in both connectors. I think you called it when you mentioned the broken retaining clip. That has to be held together tightly as there isn't much current on those wires. If the dealer can't provide one I guess I would try a junk yard. Maybe silicone sealer or hot glue if you can't find a clip. Hope something here helps.

 

[djrazr]

Have you tried the dealer? You might spray some contact cleaner in both connectors. I think you called it when you mentioned the broken retaining clip. That has to be held together tightly as there isn't much current on those wires. If the dealer can't provide one I guess I would try a junk yard. Maybe silicone sealer or hot glue if you can't find a clip. Hope something here helps.

Can i just spray some electric cleaner? I tried the dealer for a clip, and they dont sell it. You have to buy the whole harness which comes with the clip. It has to perfectly sit straight and tightened

 

[drmorbius]

Can i just spray some electric cleaner? I tried the dealer for a clip, and they dont sell it. You have to buy the whole harness which comes with the clip. It has to perfectly sit straight and tightened

Use the stuff that's safe for plastics and does NOT contain any lubricants.

 

[djrazr]

So i hooked it up with the clip, and she was running rough like the past few days. I noticed when i slightly lifted on the connection at the AFM, she smoothed out, but once i let go, she started rough again. I know its something simple, but i just cant figure it ou

The electric cleaner i have but did not use yet is "crc electric cleaner" i got a while back at autozone

 

[drmorbius]

So i hooked it up with the clip, and she was running rough like the past few days. I noticed when i slightly lifted on the connection at the AFM, she smoothed out, but once i let go, she started rough again. I know its something simple, but i just cant figure it ou

The electric cleaner i have but did not use yet is "crc electric cleaner" i got a while back at autozone

That will clean the connectors fine . Just wash them out with the spray and plug them back together. Is the clip that holds this together made of metal? Could it be reshaped with pliers to better do it's job? If not why don't you use hot glue to hold it together?

 

[djrazr]

That will clean the connectors fine . Just wash them out with the spray and plug them back together. Is the clip that holds this together made of metal? Could it be reshaped with pliers to better do it's job? If not why don't you use hot glue to hold it together?

I just read it, and it says to protect all plastic, so i guess its not good for it.
The clip is made out of metal, easily bendable, and i reshaped it. It holds the the connection together pretty tight like before. It's just now, if it just sits there, she runs rough until i slightly lift the connection, and then she's smooth. Everything is lined up good. I dont want to have to pry something underneath the connection to keep it lifted to run smooth

Thanks for your help

 

[djrazr]

Cant believe i missed it

The 2nd pic attached that hooks up to the the AFM. The right side of the harness has a little plastic piece that broke off (not pictured), so i believe that is my problem, and why i could not get a tight fit, having to lift the harness to smooth out

I'm on search for a harness. Hopefully local junk yards are open. All the auto places i called dont carry it, nor the dealer and the dealer wants $80 for it

Or can i just go to an auto store and look for a similar harness?

 

[jharris2]

I would doubt that an auto store would carry the harness -- it sounds like you're on the right track. Try the junkyards first, then dealer is last resort.