How To Clean Air Flow Sensor In A 99 Pontaic Grand Prix

Mass Air catamenia Sensor (MAF): how information technology works, symptoms, problems, testing

Updated: July 09, 2022

Mass Air menstruum Sensor (MAF).

The Mass Air Flow sensor (MAF) is one of the key components of an electronic fuel injection system in your car. It is installed between the air filter and the intake manifold of the engine. See the diagram. The mass air period sensor measures the corporeality of air inbound the engine or the air catamenia.
In modern cars, an intake air temperature or IAT sensor is built in the mass air flow sensor. In that location are few types of air catamenia sensors, withal, modernistic cars use a hot-wire blazon. Allow's see how information technology works.

How a hot-wire air flow sensor works

A hot-wire mass air flow sensor has a small electrically heated wire (hot wire). A temperature sensor installed close to the hot wire measures the temperature of the air near the hot wire.

When the engine is idling, a small-scale amount of air flows around the hot wire, and then it takes a very low current to keep the wire hot.

Toyota mass air period sensor (MAF).

When you printing the gas, the throttle opens allowing more than air to flow over the hot wire. The passing air cools the wire down. The more air flows over the wire, the more electrical current is needed to continue it hot. The electrical current is proportional to the amount of air menstruation. A small electronic chip installed inside the air flow sensor translates the electrical electric current into a digital signal and sends it to the engine computer (PCM). The PCM uses the air flow signal to calculate how much fuel to inject. The goal is to keep the air/fuel ratio at the optimal level.

In improver, the PCM uses air flow readings to determine the shift points of the automatic transmission. If the air catamenia sensor doesn't work properly, the automated transmission might shift differently likewise.

Mass air flow sensor bug

Volkswagen mass airflow sensor.

Problems with mass air flow sensors are common in many cars, including BMW, GM, Volkswagen, Mazda, Toyota, Nissan and other brands. The sensor element could get contaminated or damaged.
For instance, in some Mazda Skyactiv engines, a failed mass air menses sensor could crusade the engine to crank but not to start.
An improperly installed or collapsed air filter can cause the air menstruum sensor to fail sooner. Over-soaking a washable air filter can besides cause issues with the air flow sensor.

Symptoms of a bad mass air flow sensor

A contaminated or failed mass air flow sensor cannot measure the amount of air flow correctly. This causes the engine estimator to miscalculate the amount of injected fuel.

Mass Air menstruum Sensor (MAF).

As a consequence, a bad mass air flow sensor causes various driveability problems, including a no-commencement, stalling, lack of power and poor dispatch. In addition, a faulty mass air flow sensor might cause the Check Engine or Service Engine Soon calorie-free to come on. A problem with the air flow sensor could as well alter the shifting pattern of the automated manual.

When the air flow sensor indicate varies from the expected range, the PCM records a fault and stores the corresponding trouble lawmaking, illuminating the Check Engine light on the nuance. This problem code can be retrieved with a scan tool. The following problem codes are commonly associated with a mass air flow sensor:
P0100 - Mass Air Period Circuit Malfunction
P0101 - Mass Air Period Circuit Range/Performance
P0102 - Mass Air Flow Circuit Low
P0103 - "Mass Air Flow Circuit High"
P0104 - "Mass Air Flow Circuit Intermittent"
Trouble codes P0171 System As well Lean (Bank one) and P0174 System Besides Lean (Bank 2) are besides often caused past a bad or contaminated mass air menstruum sensor.

How the mass air menstruation sensor is tested

In modern cars, the only style to test the mass air menstruum sensor is with a scan tool. Mechanics mensurate the amount of air period (mass air menses sensor readings) at dissimilar RPMs. They compare the readings to the specifications or to the readings of a known-practiced mass airflow sensor.

Mass Airflow Sensor (MAF) readings of a 2.4L 4-cylinder engine at different RPMs.

Oft mass air flow sensor readings are measured at idle, ane,000 RPM, ii,000 RPM and three,000 RPM. A contaminated or bad air menses sensor will, in most cases, testify lower air period readings than a known practiced one. In some rare cases a bad sensor may evidence higher readings. Of form, unlike engines will accept dissimilar readings. The air flow depends on the engine volume, so a V6 or V8 engine will have higher readings.

Low mass air flow readings do non mean the sensor is bad. A clogged up air filter or plugged catalytic converter can as well cause lower air flow sensor readings. Vacuum leaks affect air flow sensor readings too. That'due south why mechanics use a known-good sensor to compare the readings. Read more: Vacuum leaks: common sources, symptoms, repairs.

Is in that location a fashion to check the mass air menses sensor readings at domicile? Of form, for case, here we used the free Torque app to measure the mass air flow sensor readings at different RPMs (in the photo). This mass air flow sensor is good.

To utilise any phone app that connects to your car, you will need a Bluetooth adaptor that plugs into the OBD connector.

Sometimes a poor electric connection at the air menses sensor connector could also cause the air flow readings to be out of range. For this reason, the air period sensor connector terminals as well as the wiring needs to be advisedly inspected.

Often if an air filter is not installed properly, or the air filter box is non closed, a piece of debris tin go sucked into the mass air flow sensor (see this photo) and cause issues. Sometimes the debris can autumn in during the air filter replacement. In this case, the repair is easy. The mass air flow sensor must be cleaned and the air filter must be reinstalled correctly or replaced.

Air catamenia sensor replacement

If the air menstruum sensor is bad, it needs to be replaced. Information technology'southward a fairly simple job. The function costs from $89 to $380. If a sensor is dirty, your mechanic may propose cleaning it (cleaning the airflow sensor is a delicate process) equally a temporary solution; sometimes it could assistance. When replacing the mass air menstruum sensor, make sure the air filter is installed properly.

Source: https://www.samarins.com/glossary/airflow_sensor.html

Posted by: porrasmishme.blogspot.com

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