Instead of spending $300 to repair your MAF (Mass Air Flow) sensor, clean it when it becomes dirty. With a few useful tools and a spray, it goes quickly and easily.
In This Article...
How should a mass airflow sensor be cleaned?
The first rule is to NEITHER clean the MAF sensor while the engine is running nor even with the key in the run position. The sensor may sustain severe damage as a result. Unplug the sensor when the key is off.
Put a towel behind the MAF sensor to capture discharge. Spray the inside of the housing with ten to fifteen bursts after inserting the plastic straw into the can’s nozzle. The plate and any hot wires need to be covered. Make sure that nothing, not even the straw, touches the wires. The wires are quite fine.
Before starting the engine, reinstall the sensor in the vehicle and wait a short while for the chemicals to evaporate.
Every time you replace or clean the air filter, it is a good idea to clean the MAF sensor as well. 4–10 horsepower can be restored to the wheels with a clean MAF sensor, which is a considerable amount for simply cleaning a sensor.
On Karman-Vortex style air flow sensors, which are generally found in Toyota Supra turbos, Mitsubishi (including the DSM rebadged Eagle Talon and Plymouth Laser), and the majority of Lexus engines, DO NOT USE ANY MAF sensor cleansers. These unique Karman-Vortex sensors have extremely delicate parts that cannot be cleaned since doing so could seriously harm the MAF sensor. A Karman-Vortex style air flow sensor cannot be cleaned effectively by a do-it-yourselfer. Just let it be when in doubt.
Be sure to get in touch with your neighborhood NAPA Auto Parts Store or NAPA AutoCare Center if you have any reservations about handling this chore yourself.
If you need routine maintenance and repairs, turn to one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare facilities or browse all the chemical and lubricant items on NAPA Online. Speak to a trained specialist at your nearby NAPA AUTO PARTS shop for further details on how to clean your MAF sensor.
What signs do a filthy mass air flow sensor exhibit?
Seven Symptoms That Your Mass Airflow Sensor Is Bad Or Dirty
- Red Exhaust. The black exhaust from too much fuel is one indication that your car’s MAF is failing.
- Engine check. A malfunctioning mass airflow sensor is frequently the blame for an illuminated check engine light.
- Trying Starts.
- Hesitation.
- Low gas prices.
- Rusty Idle.
- difficulty accelerating
How can I tell if my mass airflow sensor needs to be replaced?
The electronic fuel injection system in your car includes a mass air flow (MAF) sensor that measures the total volume of air entering the engine. The amount of air flow cannot be accurately measured by a faulty or polluted mass air flow sensor. This leads to the engine computer miscalculating the amount of fuel to inject, further harming your engine. There are three main indicators that your MAF sensor needs to be checked.
Stalling, jerking, or hesitation during acceleration
Untimed detonations might result from too much fuel remaining in the combustion chamber due to a malfunctioning MAF sensor. This will manifest as poor maneuverability, such as hesitations or sharp jerks, especially when accelerating. This may occur as you’re driving quickly down a city street or on a motorway onramp. These problems may result in hazardous conditions that result in mishaps and injuries. You need to check your car as soon as possible if you experience any of these symptoms.
air fuel ratio is too rich
“Running rich” denotes that each combustion cylinder contains an excessive amount of fuel and insufficient air. The following are indicators that your car is running rich:
These problems may arise if the MAF sensor is harmed or if the cables are covered in dirt. It can’t measure airflow precisely, thus it gives the PCM inaccurate data. The PCM discharges too much fuel when it overestimates airflow. Cleaning the wiring of the MAF sensor typically solves the issue.
air fuel ratio is too lean
Running lean, which is the reverse of running rich, means that each combustion chamber in your car has too much air and not enough fuel. The MAF sensor is providing erroneous data to the PCM, much like running rich. Instead of overestimating the airflow this time, understate it.
Even though this will momentarily increase your fuel efficiency, running lean for an extended period of time might seriously harm your car. You might encounter:
What occurs if the mass air flow sensor is unplugged?
The mass airflow sensor is unplugged, yet the car still operates. If you plug it in while the car is driving, it will shut off. The automobile will start if the mass air flow sensor is unplugged. The automobile will crash if you attempt to plug it in while it is moving.
Why would unplugging the mass air flow sensor make a car operate better?
Your investigation into the root of the engine’s poor performance led you to the mass airflow sensor. The car appears to operate more smoothly without the MAF sensor than it did with it. How come this is the case?
If the MAF sensor is producing erroneous readings and the car runs better without it plugged in, the sensor needs to be cleaned or replaced.
You should read the post after this one because I’ll explain how the MAF sensor functions, why it’s crucial, and why you shouldn’t drive without one, even if the car is running better, without it.
How long is a MAF sensor supposed to last?
The mass air flow sensors in your car are built to last a lifetime. In actuality, there is no set time between replacements. The sensor is typically not replaced until it fails because of this. Your mass airflow sensor should last for at least ten years, although this can change based on a number of things.
As impurities like carbon over time accumulate inside the mass airflow sensor, it becomes more difficult for air to move through. Engine performance issues will result from the sensor’s inability to effectively gauge the engine’s air levels due to the reduced air flow.
Which is preferable: replacing or cleaning a mass air flow sensor?
MAF sensors can be harmed, but more frequently they simply become too dusty to function properly. In this situation, they can be cleaned; however, if the problem is mechanical or electrical, they need to be replaced. Fortunately, it’s a rather simple task. They are typically easy to reach because they are close to the air filter and don’t require much (if any) removal. Frequently, all that needs to be done is to unplug a clamp, a few nuts, and the electrical connector. Keep the new one spotless, and pay special attention to how it’s installed to make sure it’s facing the right direction. The provided instructions should advise you if there are any exceptions to the flow, which is frequently denoted with an arrow. That’s all, then! Your engine performance should increase if you simply replace them out.
If your MAF sensor is malfunctioning, you shouldn’t wait to have it replaced because they provide crucial information to engines with electronic fuel injection systems. There is simply no reason not to, especially given how simple it is.
Here’s how to replace a MAF sensor on a 2003 Ford Escape 3.0L V6 engine as an illustration of a routine repair:
For routine maintenance and repairs, trust one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare locations or browse all the relays, sensors, and switches offered on the NAPA website. Visit your neighborhood NAPA AUTO PARTS store to speak with a qualified professional for further details on how to diagnose a faulty mass air flow sensor.
What is the time required for the mass air flow sensor to reset?
2. You can reset the ECU by unplugging the battery for 10 minutes after replacing the MAF. 3. Please keep in mind that other components can produce comparable symptoms, therefore the broken air flow sensor may not have been the only one.
How is a mass air flow sensor tested?
If your car has been having issues with poor idle or intermittent faults:
- Put the parking brake on.
- Set the automated park or neutral position on the transmission (manual).
- Idle the engine after starting it.
- Open up the hood.
With the handle of a screwdriver, gently touch the electrical connector and MAF sensor. Additionally, wiggle the wires.
- The MAF sensor is probably faulty if the engine stalls, the idle is disturbed, or the idling improves.
If the engine struggles to idle or won’t start:
- Unplug the electrical connector for the MAF sensor.
- Replace the MAF sensor if the engine starts or the idle gets better.
Can you clean the throttle body and MAF sensors?
Yes, a MAF cleaner can be applied to a throttle body, but a MAF cleaner cannot be applied to a throttle body. The MAFs are really picky. If the MAF sensor is a hot-wire model and the improper cleaning leaves a residue, a little amount of wire may burn.
On the throttle body, though, it cleans it really well. Simply so, it evaporates more quickly on the MAF sensor. It cleans better and costs much more money. Therefore, using a MAF sensor cleaning on a throttle body would be a waste of money. due to the throttle body cleaner’s lower price. However, it is acceptable to use the leftovers to clean the throttle if you have some. You can call a qualified technician, like one from YourMechanic, to clean your vehicle’s throttle body for you if you need assistance with this procedure.
Can a mass airflow sensor provide an error code?
Other codes, such as those relating to an air/fuel ratio imbalance or an engine misfire, may also be sent off by a bad MAF sensor.
Does changing the MAF sensor require disconnecting the battery?
The process is not complete when the mass air flow sensor installation is complete.
Instead, a full replacement necessitates a number of additional processes.
You should unplug a mass air flow sensor from the vehicle’s battery for around 15 minutes after replacing it. It differs from the procedure for unplugging the mass air flow sensor. You can follow these instructions.
- Stop the car’s engine. Without doing this action, the battery cannot be disconnected. Additionally, we advise using safety gear like gloves and goggles.
- Locate the battery’s negative terminal. If you’re having trouble, let’s seek a mechanic for help. He will assist in locating the precise spot.
- To remove the negative terminal nut, use a wrench.
- Remove the connecting point that is negative.
- Repeat the procedure using the battery’s positive terminal.
- Cut the battery off. Even though the battery is now totally unplugged, you still need to take it out of the tray. The extra step makes it easier to determine whether the battery needs to be replaced.
Disconnection aids in resetting parameters and factory settings. In parallel, it begins capturing new data using the replacement.
Can a malfunctioning mass air flow sensor lead to gearbox issues?
In order to calculate engine load, the mass airflow sensor detects airflow into the engine intake assembly. If it malfunctions, the automatic transmission may experience early soft shifts, late harsh changes, or perhaps no shifts at all. Because the mass airflow sensor and engine performance are closely related, a problem with it could make the car difficult to drive and cause the engine to operate poorly.