Mass Air Flow Sensor Screws

Hi, I need a little help I want to remove and clean my mass air flow sensor on my 2002 tacoma that I purchased used and the screws are stripped. I want to either clean or purchase a new sensor but the screws will not come out. I am guessing because of the age or it has been removed before. I want to drill them out but I am having a hard time finding the type of screws that can be used or are in there now. Should I go to the parts department at the dealership and ask them? Any help would be great.

 

I removed mine and replaced them with Allen head screws. Much easier to remove than the OEM JIS screws. A little anti seize helps too.

 

Save the little washers under the OEM screws and use them with the Allen head screws, after you get the olds out take them to a hardware store to match up size to Allen screws

 

Thank you would you have a idea on how to remove the screws because the heads are already messed up. I really don't want to damage the sensor.

 

Post a pic of them

 

https://www.toyotanation.com/threads/how-to-remove-stripped-maf-screws.1715993/

 

Yep, love me some anti-sneeze,,, I pretty much use it on all my mechanical fastners, sure makes life easier.
Maybe not a good idea on plastic base.

 

Yes, just don’t end up like this dude:

 

Had a millwright/machinist at work,, pump rebuilder,,, we'd sit down to eat lunch and eat play spades, the man would have nickel base anti-seeze on his fingers eating that sammich,,, nasty.
If he'd just used wheat bread instead of white bread it wouldn't have been as obivious....

 

I worked as a natural gas pipe fitter for about 20 years, we used a teflon paste. We used to say the best thing to clean your hands for lunch was a greasy cheese burger

 

Use a dremel to cut a small slide in the head so you can remove them with a flathead screwdriver

 

There's a ton of truth to that too, next time you have to clean up grease put a bit of fresh oil on it first and you'll notice it comes away much easier.

I straight up don't use antiseize unless it's a critical application for it. Second that bottle even gets within 2ft of my hands somehow the living room couch gets a smear of it

 

Thank you everyone. I just purchased a stripped screw removal kit and I will post a photo of what the screws look like.

 

Exactly what I did-cut a "slit" in head to accept a flathead driver. The OEM screws are too soft.

 

Here are the photos showing what the screws look like. I did order a stripped screw removal kit and I do have a dremel let me know what you guys suggest.

 

OP one screw doesn’t look bad. Hit em with penetrating oil overnight, clean em up and try a proper JIS ( Japanese industrial standard) screwdriver. Then if the stripped one doesn’t come out try the dremel method before the screw extractor. But really try to cut the slot in the middle of the screw

 

OP, please let us know how this goes! And, if possible, what size screw you ended up purchasing to replace the old ones.

 

Since we’re on the topic… is there suppose to be a gasket for the MAFS??

 

Yes an o ring
Air Mass Sensor O-Ring - Toyota (90099-14141)
2000-2018 Toyota - 9009914141

 

I did not know this. I've been removing, cleaning, and re-installing that MAF every 6 months for years, no thought nor sight of an O ring.