The good news about the mass airflow (MAF) sensor is that it can last a lifetime. The bad news is that it can get dirty. A dirty MAF sensor might malfunction and cause problems in the combustion chamber. It does this indirectly by reporting incorrect airflow data to the engine control unit. Bird Automotive advises that if your MAF sensor is dirty, you may experience the following problems.
Check Engine Warning
Your automobile’s check engine light is an indication of the engine’s health. If it turns on, there is something wrong in the engine. Because the mass airflow sensor doesn’t have a light of its own, the check engine light will turn on if it is dirty and malfunctioning.
Acceleration/Engine Lag
You will also have problems with your acceleration and your engine at higher speeds. When you press down on the accelerator, the engine will be slow to respond. It may also sputter and struggle to maintain higher speeds if the MAF sensor is dirty.
Rough Engine Idle
The idle will also be rough and your vehicle might even stall. This happens when the faulty MAF sensor does not send correct airflow data to the engine control unit. The unit may think that the combustion chamber needs more air in your vehicle will be starved for fuel.
Reduced Fuel Economy
When the engine is struggling to run, it will burn through what fuel it has. Consequently, this will leave you with a reduction in your car, truck, or utility vehicle’s fuel economy. This reduction may be noticeable and you may find yourself filling up more often.
Excess Exhaust
Another problem that can occur with a malfunctioning MAF sensor is your vehicle may release excess exhaust. In this case, the combustion chamber has too much fuel instead of too much air in it. When this happens, the engine burns the excess fuel and you see black exhaust coming out of the tailpipe.
Engine Surges
Finally, the excess fuel can also make your engine surge unexpectedly. It will pick up speed in spurts even though you have not changed the pressure of your foot on the accelerator. Unfortunately, you will continue to have this problem until the MAF sensor is cleaned or replaced.
Bird Automotive in Oak Grove, MO, is here to help, so call us today to schedule an appointment for your automobile. We’d be happy to inspect the MAF sensor and clean it if it needs it. If the sensor is malfunctioning, we can replace it.
