MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR?

Hi AMARIE1121,Welcome to 2carpros and TY for the donation.

Service and Repair

Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor

REMOVAL:

CAUTION: The Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor is a calibrated unit. Service hot wire engine element and housing as a complete assembly.

1.Disconnect battery ground cable.

NOTE: When the battery has been disconnected and reconnected, some abnormal drive symptoms may occur while the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) relearns its adaptive strategy. The vehicle may need to be driven 10 miles or more to relearn the strategy.

2.Remove air cleaner outlet tube.
3.Disconnect engine control sensor wiring connector from MAF sensor.
4.Remove four retaining nuts from air cleaner cover.
5.Carefully remove MAF sensor. Discard gasket.

INSTALLATION:
1.Position MAF sensor with new gasket onto air cleaner cover.
2.Install four retaining nuts. Tighten to 8-12 Nm (71-106 lb in) .
3.Install air cleaner outlet tube.
4.Connect engine control sensor wiring connector to MAF sensor.
5.Connect battery ground cable.
6.Start engine and check for vacuum leaks.

https://www.2carpros.com/kpages/auto_repair_manuals_alldata.htm

Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor
CAUTION: The mass air flow sensor (MAF sensor) (12B579) is a calibrated unit. Service hot wire engine element and housing as a complete assembly.

Removal

Disconnect battery ground cable
Remove air cleaner outlet tube

Disconnect engine control sensor wiring connector from mass air flow sensor.

Remove four retaining nuts from air cleaner cover.

Carefully remove mass air flow sensor. Discard gasket.

Installation

Position mass air flow sensor with new gasket onto air cleaner cover.

Install four retaining nuts. Tighten to 8-12 Nm (71-106 lb-in).

Install air cleaner outlet tube.
Connect engine control sensor wiring connector to mass air flow sensor.

Connect battery ground cable.

Start engine and check for vacuum leaks.

It can be done, but its not recommended
notice caution above

Sorry rasmataz

Its located right in the air filter housing on the air intake

You sure its 4cylinder-For a 97 Ford Taurus they all showing for a V6 engine which has a MAF sensor-

Sputtering is a sign of a misfire. The unburned fuel will burn in the catalytic converter and overheat it. The black smoke from the tail pipe is proof of too much fuel going into the exhaust system. If the catalytic converter isn't damaged already, it will be if you continue trying to drive like this. Once the catalyst melts, it will block the exhaust system. That can lead to what sounds like a backfire, but if the engine is otherwise running properly, the clue to a plugged catalytic converter is a smooth and steady hiss from the tail pipe instead of the normal "putt putt".

If there's no diagnostic fault code, how did you determine the mass air flow sensor is "malfunctioning"? What exactly do you mean by that? That sensor is the main one for determining fuel metering calculations, so if it's reporting a wrong value, you're going to get the wrong amount of fuel.

The gas smell and sputtering proves there's a spark-related misfire and too much unburned gas is going into the exhaust system where it will burn in the catalytic converter and overheat it. The egg smell proves the catalyst material is being destroyed by continuing to drive the car.

Most likely the catalytic converter will need to be replaced, but you have to diagnose and fix the problem that caused it to fail. Catalytic converters don't fail without a cause.