Ok, before I get any backlash I know this is a thirdgen forum but we have very knowlegdable people hence the reason for asking it here and no where else

My father has a '96 Ford Taurus GL 3.0 Vin U and only as of late has it been chugging. When he filled up the tank with gas from another station it started struggling to move. Now we used gas from the regular station is ceased. But upon research there is a common problem; fuel pump. My father thinks it is a MAF (mass air flow) sensor problem and we broke out the scanner and got no errors but found out there is no flow going through the sensor. Now I have a dilemma, buy him a new fuel pump or MAF sensor? Both are in the price range of $130. Any ideas or suggestions?

 

does it crank? and turn over? are u getting spark? are u getting fuel?

once you figure out if its not getting either spark or fuel then u can move onto each one

spark issues- spark plugs, sparkplug wires, distributor cap, coil, module, distributor

fuel issues- fuel pump relay, fuel pump fuse, leaking fuel injector, fuel pump, fuel filter, fuel pressure regulator


all these are possibilities, you just have to eliminate each one and find out what way to go , is it a fuel problem or a spark problem.

first check if your getting spark, and if u are then now u know its a fuel problem, from there check fuel pressure.

 

Well it turns over fine, I am able to drive it around and only spuraticaly does the engine start to chug. It isn't a spark issue. I'm just not sure, when I take out the MAF sensor there is an obvious reaction because the car begins to chug at idle but when it is in, idle is fine. I've cleaned it out and get better throttle response (i don't know) but when coming home from a 20 mile trip it began to start bucking again. Not sure what to do, maybe get a fuel pressue guage and see if there is sufficient pressure?

 

if possible try to pull off the maf sensor off another car and see if it gets better because if it does than that means your maf is bad, and if it stays the same then you know its something else. and is there an idiot light on at all? typically it would throw a code if the maf is bad

 

I don't know of any of the cars in the drive war would have out that fits but there is no idoit light coming on (the by im assuming you mean "check engine") but i'm still not getting any codes from it...its weird

 

assuming that your computer is correct, just go ahead and check fuel pressure.

 

well I check the fuel pressure and i'm getting the right amount. a steady 37 and spikes around 45 when i hit the throttle. May the oil temp sensor could be shot? Any ideas?