1996 850 GLT won't start OBDII P0102 code

Swampy · Post by **Swampy** » 04 Sep 2011, 13:54

So our '96 850 GLT won't start. I can hear the fuel pump cycle when I turn the key, I have spark at the rotor cap. If I give her a bit of starting fluid she fires then stops, almost like no gas. My OBDII reads P0102 - Mass or Volume Circuit Low Input and I have no real idea what that is pointing me to unless it is referring the Mass Air Flow Meter. It is so much like not getting fuel. I know my cat converter is going as it is real noisey; could it have, from the last time I had it running, just clogged itself? I am guessing that she would at least start for a little bit before stopping if it were the cat. All thoughts welcome. Thanks

Tall Grille · Post by **Tall Grille** » 04 Sep 2011, 15:48

Try cleaning the MAF. Spray it down with Brake Cleaner and wipe it out with a rag.

Swampy · Post by **Swampy** » 04 Sep 2011, 17:49

Do you clean the sensor itself that sits in the middle of the chamber or just the inside of the chamber? Thanks.

Post by **JimBee** » 04 Sep 2011, 18:19

When I was going over all the sensor connections and had the airbox apart for cleaning, I sprayed the MAF sensor in place with some carb cleaner, doused it good. Let it air dry. I wasn't having a problem that I know of (though on a trip my triangle light came on occasionally). The spraying didn't seem to affect it one way or the other, so it probably won't hurt to try it.

Swampy · Post by **Swampy** » 05 Sep 2011, 12:32

Thanks, the cleaning cleared the code. Still won't start but I now believe it to be a faulty Injector relay as there is no "click" when turning the key to accessory. The fuel relay does cycle on. So now I need to wait for the local dealer to open tomorrow for the part to swap out to see. Hope I am getting closer. Again, thanks for the advise.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 05 Sep 2011, 16:32

Tall Grille wrote:Try cleaning the MAF. Spray it down with Brake Cleaner and wipe it out with a rag.

NO!

Use either electrical contact cleaner or MAF Cleaner and then just let it dry. Do not touch the MAF sensor element in any way.

The MAF sensor is very sensitive and brake cleaner is way to harsh for it.

A true test for the MAF is to just unplug it and see how the car behaves. It will reset the CEL but that is easily cleared. If it starts and idles OK then the MAF circuit is suspect which can be either a bad MAF or in many cases a bad MAF connector. A zip tie around the connector will often fix the latter problem.

...Lee

Swampy · Post by **Swampy** » 05 Sep 2011, 17:32

Thanks, I did use the MAF cleaner. The disconnect check did not give me a start so I hope to pick up a new EFI relay this week from the local dealership. Thanks again for your advice.