Hi guys! While I was doing some cleaning of the vacuum line I decided to go ahead and remove the MAF to see what is its condition. I do not have any serious issues with my 95 Barchetta however the engine idles rough sometimes when it reaches its operating temperature. That's why I decided to clean the MAF anyways. The wires did not look very dirty however the one closer to the inlet looked darker than the one in the rear. It took some alcohol and gently with a small brushed rubbed some of the dust off. It became more shiny and mettalic looking so I must have removed some of the dust. However, this is actually the first MAF I ever tried to clean and do not have experience how a clean or dirty MAF look like. I am posting two pics here (one with focus on the front wire and the second with a focus on the other one) can you please tell me what you think about its general condition - is it clean enough?
Technical MAF sensor cleaning - any tips?
- Thread starter MichalM
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Technical MAF sensor cleaning - any tips?
i never cleaned the MAF in my barchetta , however i did cleaned on my passat and the concept is the same ... i did it exactly like you with alcool and a tiny brush then blow it with compressed air in low pressure .
the wire neer the inlet being darker must be the one ho acts like a "heater" and stays darker by oxidation !
It seems good to me !
the wire neer the inlet being darker must be the one ho acts like a "heater" and stays darker by oxidation !
It seems good to me !
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Hi JMSG! Thanks for the reply. This makes a feel a little bit better about the cleaning I did.
By the way, why they are two wires in it? It's a 3 pin MAF so I assume this is not ambient temperature measurement wire. When did some googling I got even more questions about the MAF sensor type at hand: majority of the pics or sketches in the net show one wire which I think is easier to understand. There are some GM MAF designs that wiki call cold wire... with multiple wires. Any idea?
By the way, why they are two wires in it? It's a 3 pin MAF so I assume this is not ambient temperature measurement wire. When did some googling I got even more questions about the MAF sensor type at hand: majority of the pics or sketches in the net show one wire which I think is easier to understand. There are some GM MAF designs that wiki call cold wire... with multiple wires. Any idea?
I certainly would not be touching the MAF wire with anything. They are easily damaged. This is generally made clear in most if not all "how to" information.
In the past I've sprayed in several short burst at the wire, let excess drip off, then a quick burst with a hair drier.
Incidentally, the times I've done this to solve a problem, it turned out to be something entirely different. Personally & just my thoughts, I wouldn't randomly just clean the MAF for the sake of it. You could be unlucky & create a problem. As I've said just my thoughts...
In the past I've sprayed in several short burst at the wire, let excess drip off, then a quick burst with a hair drier.
Incidentally, the times I've done this to solve a problem, it turned out to be something entirely different. Personally & just my thoughts, I wouldn't randomly just clean the MAF for the sake of it. You could be unlucky & create a problem. As I've said just my thoughts...
you will find your answer right in the first page of this pdf ... this one is a "hot wire "
https://www.oscium.com/sites/default/files/MAF_autoshop101.pdf
https://www.oscium.com/sites/default/files/MAF_autoshop101.pdf
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If you feel you need to clean the MAF, any electrical cleaner will do & are generally much cheaper than so called stuff the likes of this.Gaining extra ponies, is stretching things a bit far, it states on the side of the can, even at this time of the year of fairy stories... Poor maintenance & not changing the air filter often enough are the reasons why the MAF gets dirty. Generally speaking if you keep to this procedure the MAF tends to be fine. If on the other hand the MAF is found to be at fault, it tends to be new MAF time.
Over the years I've found that more often than not there is a leak in the system when dealing with the air intake system. That is if the car is not running properly. As I've said, just spraying a cleaner in the MAF just because it seems a good idea is not really advisable. At best you've wasted time & money, at worst I've known of damage done.
Poor maintenance & not changing the air filter often enough are the reasons why the MAF gets dirty. Generally speaking if you keep to this procedure the MAF tends to be fine. If on the other hand the MAF is found to be at fault, it tends to be new MAF time. Over the years I've found that more often than not there is a leak in the system when dealing with the air intake system. That is if the car is not running properly. As I've said, just spraying a cleaner in the MAF just because it seems a good idea is not really advisable. At best you've wasted time & money, at worst I've known of damage done.
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...and NEVER use an oiled filter, like K&N, on a MAF sensor equiped car.
Oil residu will affect proper MAF signal reading.
Oil residu will affect proper MAF signal reading.
Thank you all for your responses. And thank you for the interesting pdf JMSG! This was very helpful.
Reading all the warnings I hope I did not break it while cleaning. Whatever the outcome is I will let you know for the sake of the future forum readers. I hope to put it all back after X-mas.
Thanks!
Reading all the warnings I hope I did not break it while cleaning. Whatever the outcome is I will let you know for the sake of the future forum readers
. I hope to put it all back after X-mas.Thanks!
