Generally, the mass airflow (MAF) sensor doesn’t go bad the entire time you own your car, truck, or C/SUV. If you keep it for a long time, however, the MAF sensor can get dirty and start to malfunction. Cleaning the MAF sensor can solve the problem in most cases, but if the sensor is faulty, it will need to be replaced. Ultimate Auto Repair is going to list the signs of a bad MAF sensor below.
Slow Acceleration
A faulty MAF sensor can create problems with your vehicle’s acceleration because it can indirectly affect how much air is in the combustion chamber. If it measures the incoming air incorrectly, the engine control module may add extra air to the chamber and your acceleration will lag.
Performance Problems
This can also cause engine performance problems, such as lagging or sputtering. Again, the vehicle is being fuel-starved by the excess air in the combustion chamber. Consequently, the engine cannot perform as well as it normally does because it’s running on a lean fuel mixture.
Hard Starts/No Starts
This can also make starting your automobile extremely difficult. In fact, in severe cases, you may not be able to get your vehicle started at all. When the MAF sensor causes the problems listed above, system sensors send error codes to the main computer that might cause engine starting difficulties.
Reduced Fuel Economy
All of these things can reduce your automobile’s fuel economy. It will not be running efficiently, so the fuel consumption will not be efficient. Unfortunately, you will find that you will need to head to the service station more often to keep the tank full.
Black Exhaust Smoke
The opposite can also occur with a malfunctioning mass airflow sensor. You might end up with too much fuel in the chamber and black exhaust smoke resulting from the excess fuel burn. The mass airflow sensor can trick, if you will, the computer into adding unnecessary fuel to the chamber.
Rough Engine Idle
The imbalance between the air and fuel can also make your engine idle roughly. Unfortunately, you will continue to have this problem until you replace the malfunctioning MAF sensor or have it cleaned.
Ultimate Auto Repair is the best auto service shop in Jackson, MI, and we hate to say it but all of these things might be accompanied by a check engine warning on the dashboard. Don’t worry. We’ve got you. Bring your vehicle to our shop and we’ll clean or replace the MAF sensor.
