Yes,

If the hotwire on the MAF is dirty, it will indicate less air in entering the engine than is true.

Computer adjusts fuel to match the incorrectly smaller volume of air.

O2 sensor then indicates lean P0171 IIRC.

An engine running lean will run warmer, and have a greater tendancy to ping.

Fix the lean condition, and it is reasonable that the ping goes away.

HTH,

TB

"Seems like our society is more interested in turning each successive generation into cookie-cutter wankers than anything else." -- Jato 8/24/2004