Also, I'm having some intake backfire when cold.

 

Oh yeah, I bought the harbor Freight fuel pressure tester. It fits and I'm getting 45-50psi.

 

Bad MAF.

You have the incorrect gear ratio fault code and the backfiring when cold leans towards a bad MAF.

 

Yep.

Pulled the MAF out and it looked dirty all over. My Air filter box has two missing clamps. It looked to be sealed okay, but apparently not. I put a pair of vice grips (redneck!) on the box.

I cleaned the MAF (Bosch 0.280.217.532) sensor with CRC MAF Cleaner, spraying it excessively twice. I paid particular attention to the two metal "blades" (one near the end, one lying flat in the middle, and the "U" shaped wire with the glass diode in it.

I let it lay in the sun for ten minutes, then reassembled everything.

It runs very well now. It has power and revs to the rev limiter. It also will allow acceleration all the way to 5200rpm before it shifts.

I still noticed two intake backfires; I assume that is what it is, sounds like popping under the hood. Also, off the line it is still a bit sluggish, but the difference post MAF cleaning is night and day.

I'm thinking I should still replace the MAF. I found one here for cheap :
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Land-...#ht_503wt_1161

I'm also going to change tranny fluid with Valvoline High Mileage and a bottle of Lucas, as that has not been done yet, and I've got the materials.

 

If you use that MAF you will still have MAF problems, you need to use the BOSCH MAF.

As for the back firing, once you replace the MAF if it continues then you may have a sticky intake valve.
Are you using premium gas? How often are you changing the oil and what oil are you using?

 

What's wrong with that MAF?

I use 93 Octane Exxon or Shell gas, and 0w40 Mobil 1 Syn for Diesels.

 

Unless it is a direct fit Bosch MAF it wont fit correctly.
Others have used the cheaper ones and they always come back with more MAF codes and a bad running truck.

 

Ouch.

Well, we'll see it's already been ordered. It has a 7 day return policy, so wish me luck.

 

Good luck.

Keep us posted.

 

New MAF works great; codes are gone, and no hesitation, misfire, or intake backfires.