What Happens When Air Flow Sensor Goes Bad?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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A bad MAF

can cause too much fuel to be left in the combustion chamber

, creating untimed detonations. You'll experience this as poor drivability such as hesitations or sudden jerking motions, particularly during acceleration.

What causes MAF sensor failure?


Contamination

is a key reason why MAF fail and require replacement. As air, dirt and other debris get into the sensor, the parts become contaminated and fail. Drivers often notice sluggish performance, rough idling, poor acceleration or even stalling. There may also be a more frequent need to refuel.

How do you test an air flow sensor?

Set your meter at or close

to 10 V DC

. Start the engine and let it idle. Backprobe the signal and ground wires (red probe to signal and black probe to ground). Depending on your MAF sensor, your voltage reading should be between 0.60 to 0.80 volts at idle.

Will my car run if I unplug the MAF sensor?

If you unplug the mass air flow sensor

the car will start

. If you try to plug it in while it's running the car will die.

How do I know if my mass air flow sensor is bad?

  1. Stalling, jerking, or hesitation during acceleration.
  2. air fuel ratio is too rich.
  3. air fuel ratio is too lean.

How do I know if I have a bad mass air flow sensor?

Symptoms of a Faulty Mass Air Flow Sensor


The engine is very hard to start or turn over

.

The engine stalls shortly after starting

.

The engine hesitates

or drags while under load or idle. Hesitation and jerking during acceleration.

Can I drive my car with a bad mass air flow sensor?


Yes! It is possible to drive with the signs of a

bad MAF sensor but for a specific duration. However, it will be recommended not to drive with a bad MAF sensor to lead the driver towards engine issues. Usually, people neglect what the MAF sensor tells them that often leads them towards the worst engine conditions.

How much does it cost to fix a mass air flow sensor?

The average cost to have the mass sensor replaced is

between $200 and $350

.

How long does it take for mass air flow sensor to reset?

Check if the engine light is still on after the Mass Air Flow Sensor was replaced. The entire system can be reset by unhooking the battery and leaving it unhooked for

10 minutes

. Keeping the battery unhooked for longer than 10 minutes won't hurt anything.

Can a bad mass air flow sensor cause transmission problems?

The Mass Airflow Sensor measures airflow into the engine intake assembly and is used to determine engine load. If it fails it can cause automatic transmission problems such as

late harsh shifts

, early soft shifts, or can result in no shifting at all.

Should I clean or replace MAF sensor?

The design and function of the mass air flow sensor

Both are delicate and may be damaged if you try to clean them. For this reason,

it's better to replace the sensor than to attempt to clean it and continue using it

. The MAF sensor measures the amount of air that comes into the system.

Can a MAF sensor cause a misfire?

If an oxygen sensor or mass airflow sensor is failing,

it could give incorrect data to your engine's computer

, causing the misfire. When a vacuum line is broken, it can cause a fuel-injected motor to misfire. … Replacing a vacuum line that's gone bad can potentially resolve the misfire.

How do I clean my MAF sensor without cleaning it?

  1. Locate the mass air flow sensor on your vehicle, which will be under the hood. …
  2. Remove the MAF sensor from the vehicle. …
  3. Pour isopropyl alcohol in a clean spray bottle.
  4. Spray the alcohol liberally over the MAF sensor. …
  5. Place the wet MAF sensor on a clean shop rag or paper towel.

What is the code for a bad mass air flow sensor?


P0101

is the general code for a problem with the Mass Airflow Sensor (MAS) operating range and/or an engine performance issue.

Can you clean a MAF sensor?

We recommend that you clean the MAF sensor every time you change your air filter. …

Spray 10 to 15 spurts of the mass air flower cleaner onto the wire or plate

. Don't scrub the parts; you may break the wire or damage the plate. Allow the MAF sensor to dry completely before reinstalling it in the air duct.

Charlene Dyck
Author
Charlene Dyck
Charlene is a software developer and technology expert with a degree in computer science. She has worked for major tech companies and has a keen understanding of how computers and electronics work. Sarah is also an advocate for digital privacy and security.