There are symptoms of a bad mass air flow sensor.
The symptoms of a bad mass air flow sensor include low engine power, poor fuel economy, an engine that won't start, a check engine light on the dash, and a gas smell from the exhaust fumes.
The mass air flow sensor is used to keep track of the amount of air coming in through the air filter so that the engine can be adjusted to get more fuel into it.
If the mass air flow sensor is malfunctioning, you will be faced with a number of symptoms such as lack of power and bad fuel economy.
I'm going to explain how to diagnose a bad air flow meter and see what's involved in fixing it, because there are many other reasons why your car might not be running properly.
Fuel delivery control depends on the mass air flow sensor data.Depending on how fast the engine is running, the amount of air entering through the air filter will vary.
The engine will need more fuel if you push down on the pedal.Fuel and air are needed to increase speed.The amount of air coming in must be kept in line with the fuel amount.The mass air flow sensor is important because of this.It needs to be able to accurately measure the air flow and send it to the ECU in real time.
An engine that is performing badly is the most common sign of a bad mass air flow sensor.
A check engine light is caused by a bad mass air flow sensor.The check engine light is a way of letting you know that something is not right, because it will detect an out of range value from the MAF sensor.
The rest of the engine sensors are used to compensate for the lack of incoming air mass information.It can be difficult to start a vehicle with installed sensors.The engine may not start on older models.
There will be a noticeable decrease in fuel economy due to the lack of proper information coming from the MAF.The default air mass value range is what mostECUs will use to keep the engine running.More fuel will be fed into the engine than is required because this is not an accurate value.
The vehicle year and maker of the vehicle may affect the compensation of this failure.This could cause an engine to die occasionally while idling.
A bad mass air flow sensor won't reliably measure the amount of air coming in through the air filter, resulting in a delay in the fuel delivery during sudden acceleration and a temporary lack of power.In such a scenario, theECU will sense the drop in engine vacuum first and then use other sensors to decide if more fuel is required.
It could take half a second to see the hesitation.Under wide open throttle acceleration, this condition will be worse.
Similar to the previous point, if you are driving uphill, towing, or demanding power from your engine, you will find a serious hesitation due to lack of proper information regarding air mass entering the engine.
The fuel to air ratio will be affected by a failure to deliver the exact amount of fuel.
If there is too much fuel getting into the engine, it can end up in the exhaust fumes and cause a gas smell from your exhaust pipe.If left un-repaired, it can cause premature failure of the catalytic convertor.
The Mass Air Flow Sensor is an electronic component of the fuel delivery system.In real time, the mass of air entering the engine is reported.
The amount of fuel needed to achieve the stoichiometric ratio is determined by using this information.
The oxygen sensor feedback that is used as a key input for the next computing cycle is adjusted after analyzing the data from the rest of the sensors.Without the data from the air flow analyzer, the engine wouldn't be able to make a proper fuel delivery.
Depending on the year and make of the vehicle, you can find different types of mass air flow sensors.
Since hot-wire technology is the most widely used today, we assume your MAF is using that design.
The name "hot-wire" is a direct reference to the sensor design where a thin filament is heated to a constant temperature by an electronic controller.There is a part of the sensor that contains the filament.
The theory behind this technology is simple, the amount of current required to keep the filament at its preset temperature is directly proportional to the air volume entering the engine.The controller of the sensor is in charge of monitoring the current and reporting it to the computer.
There are different types of hot-wire technology.The hot-wire sensors don't measure mass but incoming air volume.You need air volume, air temperature and barometric pressure to know the air mass.The Intake Air Temperature sensor and barometric sensor are included in the MAF.
The air mass flow can be calculated in real time with the help of the three sensors.Some mass air flow sensors integrate the IAT and BARO into one single part, while others just use the information to calculate the mass keeping each sensor independent.
The signal output is an important factor to consider.The output of a mass air flow sensor is different from a digital one.
A digital output is instantly interpreted by the ECU without the need to pass the signal through theADC.A component of the integrated controller is the MAFs ownADC.
It is assumed that you have a basic knowledge of safety precautions while working on your vehicle.
Depending on the mass air flow sensor installed on your vehicle, you may need one or more of the following tools.
No matter what kind of sensor is installed, a professional grade automotive scanner with live data graphing capabilities would definitely speed up the process.
When possible, refer to the appropriate literature.Diagnostic procedures from the original manufacturer should be precedence over generic procedures.
Data trouble codes can be found by using an OBD2 code reader.The only thing you need to do is connect your code reader and turn the engine off.If the turbocharger is fitted, there are common error codes.
Data trouble codes need to be clear now that you know what's in the memory.This is done when you use your tool.
The key on engine running is known as the driving cycle, when you disconnected your code reader and started the engine.Stop the engine if the check engine light turns on.For 5 to 10 minutes, drive the vehicle if the check engine light is not on.You may have an intermittent problem if the light remains off.Continue with the diagnostic process if the light is on.
If you have any doubts, refer to the "how to replace" section of the tests.
There is a visual inspection of the sensor wiring.Look for damaged wires.A faulty insulation can cause shorts to ground or open circuits.
The sensor harness connector is the same as before.The MAF sensor harness should be unplugged if the ignition key is turned off.If you see bent terminal pins, look for a bad connection.
It is very common to find a MAF sensor reporting false values due to a dirty hot-wire cavity.
Air entering the engine may be polluted with oil particles and other pollutants.Before going any further, an extensive visual inspection is needed to discard this condition.
Many designs include IAT and sometimes even BARO, as mentioned earlier in the article.Refer to the wiring diagram to identify the signals.
The intake air temperature sensor needs a reference voltage of 5V to function.To measure the reference voltage, you will need to enter the key/ignition on the engine off and turn the digital multimeter dial to "voltage" test mode.Place one multimeter probe in a known ground and the other probe tip in the terminal of the MAF sensor wiring harness corresponding to theECU reference.
You must check the continuity and electrical resistance of the wire from the terminal all the way to theECU if there is no voltage.If your MAF integrates a BARO sensor, repeat the procedure.
The ground test assumes that you found a good reference voltage.Once again, enter inKOEO mode, turn the digital multimeter dial to "voltage" test mode and place one probe tip on the MAF harness terminal that should be the ground.
It is not uncommon to have more than one ground coming from the ECU.If the difference is greater than 10%, you will need to check the electrical resistance and continuity of the ground line from the MAF harness all the way down to theECU.The test should be repeated for each of the ground signals.
The MAF sensor uses a hot-wire design.The controller uses a 12V supply to power itself but also to operate the hot wire.The MAF would shut-off immediately without this power line.Refer to the proper wiring diagram to identify the terminal.
To measure the supply voltage, you will need to enter inKOEO mode and turn the digital multimeter dial to the test mode.Place one multimeter probe in a known ground and the other probe tip in the terminal of the MAF sensor wiring harness corresponding to the +12V supply.If the measured value is less than 95 percent of the battery voltage, you will need to check the entire line from the MAF harness.
You can perform a Mass Air Flow Sensor live test using an automotive diagnostic scanner.The data from the MAF sensor can be locked on the display.You may have several items to check.The MAF output is expressed in grams per second.If you can't find the calculated value, you could lock the screen.When you are ready, start the engine.If your tool has a graphing ability, turn it on.The graph engine RPM and MAF output are at the same time.The engine should be decelerated.The lines should be similar, increasing and decreasing at the same time.The greater the difference between them, the more likely you are to have a bad mass air flow sensor.
Most of the cost of replacing a mass air flow sensor comes from the part and not the labor.
If you are going to replace the air flow sensor yourself, I would recommend buying an original equipment manufacturer.It will probably cost more, but it will last longer.
Cheap aftermarket sensors from lesser known manufacturers fail within 6 months to a year.If you own a vehicle that has the inner sensor part, this can be cheaper than buying the entire part.
Between the air filter housing and the throttle body is where the MAF sensor is located.It is easy to replace the sensor as it only involves removing the air filter box and some air pipes.
There are some recommended tools: anob2 Code Reader, safety glasses, mechanics gloves, appropriate screwdriver and/or wrench, and proper illumination.
Sometimes you can extend the life of the mass air flow sensor by cleaning it.The sensor can become covered in grease and dirt and this can affect its performance.
The sensor may be worn as well as dirty if the engine is performing badly.A dirty MAF sensor will affect things like fuel economy and may cause a delay in acceleration, but usually won't cause an engine cut out.If the check engine light comes on, it usually means that the sensor is broken and needs to be cleaned.
Cleaning a mass air flow sensor involves some basic steps.It is a good idea to refer to a service manual if you can.I usually clean the sensor while it is still in the car, but some people prefer to remove it, either way, both approaches work.
1.The air filter box needs to be disconnected.Remove the air filter box and loosen the connection between it and the mass airflow sensor.The air filter box needs to be removed completely.Without clear access to the mass air flow sensor housing, you can't remove it from the vehicle.
2.The mass air flow sensor needs to be removed.If you have access to the mass air flow sensor, you should carefully remove any larger pieces of dirt such as leaves or small stones.Dirt can accumulate on this side of the air filter if it has not been changed in a long time.The sensor can be removed from the air filter box or the vehicle.
3.The sensor needs to be cleaned.You need to proceed with extreme caution and never use any decarbonizing, acid, aggressive detergent or similar product on the hot-wire sensors of a MAF.
The only way to clean the sensor surface is with a Mass Air Flow Sensor cleaner.The sensor can be damaged if you touch it with your hands.
4.Attach the mass air flow sensor to the car.Refit everything carefully, and make sure to connect the wiring harness to the sensor housing.The air filter should be replaced with a new one.
There is a video that explains the process.The MAF sensor on a Volkswagen Golf can be cleaned by removing it from the vehicle.
It is possible to drive with a bad mass airflow sensor, but it can lead to the damage of other engine components and your vehicle will use a lot more fuel than it should, especially at higher speeds.
The engine timing and fuel delivery will be adjusted if the engine doesn't receive a signal from the MAF.The default airflow value is related to the position of the throttle body.The approximate value is used to keep the engine running.
A bad MAF sensor will cause a car to run indefinitely, but it will experience some symptoms.It is okay to drive a short distance to a repair shop if you know that the MAF sensor is malfunctioning, but you should change or clean the sensor as soon as possible to avoid damage to the engine.
Sometimes a mass airflow sensor can fail without triggering a check engine light.
There must be a problem with the mass airflow sensor circuit.Most of the time, the MAF sensor won't fail completely, but it will stop sending an accurate air flow reading to theECU.
The check engine light will not be triggered by the MAF sensor error code as the sensor is still functioning.The check engine light will usually stay on even if the sensor fails completely.
A build up of dirt or grease can cause a mass air flow sensor to fail.The high temperature of the engine will affect it.
The mass airflow sensor is located in the engine and can be exposed to a wide range of temperatures.The electronic properties of the hot-wire sensors will be affected by this.
The MAF sensor won't be protected from incoming impurities if the air filters are not changed regularly or if a low quality aftermarket filter is used.The lifespan of the MAF sensor can be shortened if your vehicle has a performance air filter fitted.
Most performance air filters let more air in.The filter material is made more permeable.Dirt can get through if more air is getting through, and this can lead to the surface of the MAF sensor.
To compensate for the bigger holes in a performance air filter, it is important to regularly apply oil to the filter.The MAF sensor can be affected if the filter runs dry for a long time.It is important to not use too much oil and to allow the filter to dry before fitting, so as not to taint the sensor with the oil.
The symptoms of a bad mass air flow sensor include a car that is difficult to start, bad fuel economy, a rough idling, and sometimes a fuel smell from the exhaust fumes.