* Poor Fuel Economy: The MAF sensor tells the engine's computer (PCM) how much air is entering the engine. A bad sensor provides inaccurate readings, leading to incorrect fuel delivery. This results in either too much or too little fuel being injected, drastically reducing fuel efficiency.
* Rough Idle or Stalling: An inaccurate air-fuel mixture will cause the engine to run poorly, leading to a rough idle, hesitation during acceleration, and potentially stalling, especially at low speeds or idle.
* Check Engine Light: The PCM will almost certainly detect a problem with the air-fuel mixture and illuminate the check engine light, storing a diagnostic trouble code (DTC).
* Reduced Engine Power: Similar to rough idling, an incorrect air-fuel mixture will reduce the engine's overall power and responsiveness. Acceleration will be sluggish, and hill climbing may become difficult.
* Engine Damage (Long-Term): Continuously running with a bad MAF sensor can lead to long-term engine damage. Too much fuel can cause fouling of spark plugs and catalytic converters, while too little fuel can lead to lean conditions that can severely damage the engine's internal components due to overheating.
In short, ignoring a faulty MAF sensor on your Ford Windstar will likely lead to progressively worse performance, increased fuel consumption, and the potential for expensive repairs down the line. It's a relatively inexpensive part to replace and doing so promptly prevents more serious problems.
