How to clean the mass air flow sensor properly?
- Thread starter arnolj25
- Start date
You shouldn't clean the Mass Air Flow sensor every year. It's not in the service manual and it's very likely that cleaning it will do more harm than good.
If you want to inspect the MAF you can connect to your cars OBD2 port and read the MAF values.
Switch the ignition to ON (MAF: 0.59 g/s {0.078 lb/min}): approx. 0.72 V
Idle (after warm up) (MAF: 2.17 g/s {0.287 lb/min}): approx. 0.86 V
Racing (engine speed is 2,000 rpm) (MAF: 4.73 g/s {0.626 lb/min}): approx. 1.07 V
If your values are not close to those above, than you can check the connections, and if those are fine than you can consider cleaning it.. or more likely replacing it altogether.
By the way, here is the list of possible causes of that symptom from the service manual
Assuming your car is sill under its powertrain warranty you might be best off taking it to the dealer. Engine overheating
Drive-by-wire control system operates with brake override system
PCM DTC is stored
Improper operation of A/C system
Improper operation of drive-by-wire control system
Throttle body malfunction
Incorrect fuel injection timing
Fuel injector malfunction
Purge solenoid valve malfunction
Erratic signal to PCM
APP sensor or related circuit malfunction
CPP switch or related circuit malfunction (MTX)
Neutral switch or related circuit malfunction (MTX)
Communication error between TCM and PCM (ATX)
ECT sensor No.1 or related circuit malfunction
Fuel pressure sensor or related circuit malfunction
IAT sensor No.1 (integrated in MAF sensor/IAT sensor No.1) or related circuit malfunction
MAF sensor or related circuit malfunction
MAP sensor or related circuit malfunction
A/F sensor or related circuit malfunction
HO2S or related circuit malfunction
Improper air/fuel mixture ratio control operation
Intermittent open or short circuit MAF sensor, APP sensor, TP sensor
Fuel leakage
Poor fuel quality
Air leakage or restriction in intake-air system
Air cleaner restricted or dirty
Vacuum leakage
Clutch slippage (MTX)
Brake dragging
Tire air pressure malfunction
Erratic or no signal from CMP sensor
Loose installation
Damaged trigger wheel (intake camshaft and/or exhaust camshaft)
Open or short circuit in related wiring harness
Erratic signal from CKP sensor
Loose installation
Damaged trigger wheel (crankshaft pulley)
Open or short circuit in related wiring harness
Inadequate fuel pressure (high or low pressure side)
Fuel pressure sensor malfunction
High pressure fuel pump malfunction
Spill valve control solenoid valve control circuit malfunction (damage to driver in PCM caused by short circuit to ground system)
Spill valve control solenoid valve (built-into high pressure fuel pump) malfunction
Relief valve (built-into high pressure fuel pump) malfunction
Fuel line restricted or clogged
Fuel pump mechanical malfunction
Improper operation of electric variable valve timing control system (PCM DTC is stored.)
Improper operation of hydraulic variable valve timing control system
Throttle valve restricted or clogged
Low engine compression
Improper intake valve timing due to timing chain jumping
Improper exhaust valve timing due to timing chain jumping
Spark plug malfunction
Incorrect signal to ignition coil
Exhaust system and/or TWC restriction
PCV valve malfunction
Injector driver (built-into PCM) malfunction
ATX internal malfunction (ATX)
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I'm not too worried about the MAF sensor in our cars. I'm at 35k miles. My wife's 07 Rabbit however I am suspecting her MAF sensor has became an issue. While on the highway she experienced loss of acceleration and vehicle would not shift into higher gears. Her speed only being able to reach around 40 mph. It was also raining hard today. If she's able to drive safely home from work I'm going to check out her MAF sensor - remove it and clean it, replace air filter, and replace her spark plugs. She's at 125k miles.
