2000 STS needs new plugs??

[middieblueSTS]

My car just hasn't been running all that great lately. Just sluggish and it seems like I have to really stand on the pedal to get any real response which makes it shift too hard.

I have about 63000 miles on it and it's a 2000. As far as I know the plugs have never been done. I did the fuel filter at around 45K. I have a K&N filter that I put in new at around 40K, but they say they don't have to be cleaned until like 50,000 miles.

Suggestions?

[Ranger]

Try removing the K & N. Put the stock filter back and see if that helps any. If the K & N is the oiled type, try spraying the MAF sensor with some Brakleen. Oil may have gotten on the sensor.

[submariner409]

23,000 miles on any air filter on earth is far too long.......Take Ranger's suggestion. You can buy and throw away a lot of (dirty) WIX panel filters for the price of one K&N. Plugs should be good to 90 - 100,000.

[middieblueSTS]

Awesome, thanks guys! Where is the MAF sensor--Is this something I could easily do?

[submariner409]

The Mass Airflow Sensor is the black unit in the intake air duct just after the air filter "door". IF your car still has the resonator, pull that (Torx bolt and permanent clamp), and then loosen the three 5/16" hex head hose clamps on the air intake piping. Remove the duct from the throttlebody first, pulling it up and around the cable fittings just over it. It will come off the MAF easily. Unplug the spring clip 5-pin connector on the MAF and remove it and the adapter ring together. BE CAREFUL......behind the airflow honeycomb there are 3 tiny heated resistors which form the signal to measure airflow. If the inside of the MAF looks clean and dry, don't even try to make it better. If things are oily and dirty, it all has to be carefully cleaned.

The "butt plug" in the pic is a 2" rubber pipe cap, any hardware store, $1.59 with s/s clamp. Sure cleans things up and makes transmission fluid checks easier..........Posts about it all last fall in Northstar performance.