Hi I have a 1998 Ranger splash with the V6 3.0L and I have been getting weird problems with the engine.

Problems:

While driving at 4000rpm the idle jumped right back to 3000rpm if I press the gas and won't go over.
Then when I stop at a red light the idle drop frequently from 1000rpm to 200 or stops. It even does that after a few minutes when it's rolling at park in my drive way.
And the CEL is on and I check the code and it's linked to the mass air flow although even disconnected the problem is still there.

Thing I have tried:

I dried rolling with the mass air flow sensor unplug but it the car was still doing it while I could have seen a difference, I could now reach higher rpm's. So I tried cleaning it with a mass air flow cleaner and cleaned with a carburetor cleaner the IAC.

The problem is still there. I am currently changing the air filter and the fuel filter m'I doing the right thing? what do you guy's suggest?? where can the problem come from??

Thanks in advance to all

 

If the MAF is bad, by unplugging it you wouldn't see a difference. I would try by getting a new maf for it and go from there.

 

Does the fuel filter could have anything to do with the problem? I guess I am going to change the MAF anyway since you say cleaning it doesn't help or fix the problem?