Symptoms of a dirty mass air flow sensor (MAF sensor) include a hard starting, rough running engine that may or may not hold an idle properly. Your vehicle’s MAF sensor measures the amount of air coming into the engine. Your Engine Control Unit (ECU) uses this measurement to determine how much fuel the engine needs. Your MAF sensor must be clean in order to work properly.
It’s a good idea to try cleaning your MAF sensor before spending time and money diagnosing other issues or replacing more expensive parts. All you need to perform this quick fix are the tools necessary to loosen your MAF sensor and a can of MAF sensor cleaner. If all fails, view our mass air flow meters for sale here.
Locating Your Vehicle’s MAF Sensor
If you’ve ever changed your vehicle’s air filter, then you already know where to look for its MAF sensor. The MAF sensor is housed in a medium-size plastic box on your vehicle’s intake system. Your MAF sensor may share its housing with the air filter.
If you have trouble locating your MAF sensor, use a search term specific to your year, make, and model to determine it’s location using Google Image Search.
Loosening or Removing Your MAF Sensor
It’s often not necessary to remove the MAF sensor from the vehicle simply to clean it. Whenever you work on your vehicle, avoid removing and disassembling components that don’t need to be removed or disassembled. Try to think ahead, so you don’t “go too far” with the disassembly process.
Your MAF sensor may be attached to your vehicle using TORX screws or other uncommon fasteners. Be sure to have the right tools on hand before you begin the repair process. It always helps to do a little research ahead of time to ensure you have the right tools to work on your vehicle.
Always check the fit of your tools against your vehicle’s fasteners before you apply any force to them. This will help you to avoid stripping or rounding off the fasteners as you perform necessary maintenance and repairs.
Cleaning Your MAF Sensor
Once you have access to your MAF sensor, grab your can of MAF sensor cleaner and spray it inside the housing. Aim at the parts in the middle of the MAF sensor, either a wire element or a flapper door. Use quick squirts to ensure you don’t use more cleaner than necessary.
Do not attempt to scrub or polish the MAF sensor’s parts. They are fragile and easy to damage. The force from the can of MAF sensor cleaner should be more than enough to get the parts clean.
It’s a great idea to wear safety glasses, long sleeves, and gloves when you work on your vehicle. Automotive solvents are corrosive and may irritate your eyes, skin, and hands.
Check Your Results
Reassemble your vehicle’s air intake system. Start the vehicle. Your vehicle should start easily and run smoothly after you clean its MAF sensor.
If the vehicle fails to start easily and run smoothly, you may need to repeat the MAF sensor cleaning process, or you may need to perform further diagnostic work to determine the true cause of your vehicle’s problem.
