MAF Cleaning

[Cheekymonkey]

Advice required...

Following sundays rolling road day at JBS, it has been suggested to me that the unusual dip in my power chart may be due to the MAF being on it's way out... I have done a few searches on MAF cleaning but would just like to get some up to date opinions on whether it is worthwhile, is it easy enough to do if you are careful... etc.

All comments welcome.

Thanks,

[robert79]

I cleaned the MAF on my old Escort a couple of times and it did make a difference. I don't know what type MAF these cars have, but the Ford on was a heated wire type. I just sprayed some carburettor cleaner over it until it was shiney again, taking care not to break the wire!

[skodakid]

In my experience, MAF cleaning doesn't work. It is only (sometimes) effective with older "hot wire" MAFs whereas VAG MAFs are Bosch hot film units with integrated electronics.
I believe the common fault is the VAG MAFs calibration drift with age to a point at which its maximum output becomes limited. Then this limit drifts even lower and effectively the ECU thinks that (max) airflow is more and more restricted and it lowers the fuelling in accordance with the maps.
So maximum torque and power (throughout the range) is slowly reduced (over a period of months) Most people don't notice this until it's gone quite a bit as most people don't drive at max torque very often or for long periods.

[Cheekymonkey]

Any other thoughts? I don't particularly want to go down the replacement MAF route if possible - even that sounds expensive!

Is there any way of checking whether the MAF is or is not faulty???

[skodakid]

When a MAF is well and truly knacked, then when you disconnect it, it runs better than when its plugged in....

But in the early stages, you just start to lose that top end... Easiest way is by substitution.

You could try a diagnostic but as exchange MAFs are now availabe at around £75+VAT from dealers thats just as cheap....

They're easy to take off and fairly easy to clean (use VW Quantum brake cleaner....) but in my case it made no difference (Alhambra 1.9Tdi)

[jonyboy]

Originally Posted by Cheekymonkey

Any other thoughts? I don't particularly want to go down the replacement MAF route if possible - even that sounds expensive!

Is there any way of checking whether the MAF is or is not faulty???

This sounds all too familiar
I went on the rollers on sunday at JBS too and James also advised me that my MAF appeared faulty....
You can see from my graph that its really jagged and its down by about 10bhp too


I'm booked in at JBS first thing this saturday to find out what the problem is and hopefully get it sorted

I did clean and then re-oil my filter the day before the run but i didn't put hardly any oil on the filter
As soon as i got home from the run I removed all the oil again and now i'm running it almost dry so fingers crossed its nothing i've done and everything should be ok by saturday lunch

[Cheekymonkey]

Keep us posted mate...

If JBS can pin-point the problem, that might guide me as well.

[flatfourburble]

Dave does your fabia feel slower at all through the old butt dyno? Just abit worried that I may get MAF issues.

[Cheekymonkey]

Not particularly, but the top end can feel a bit wheezy...

[flatfourburble]

I'll have to test mine out

[aixlad]

Originally Posted by Cheekymonkey

Any other thoughts? I don't particularly want to go down the replacement MAF route if possible - even that sounds expensive!

Is there any way of checking whether the MAF is or is not faulty???

I read in the press a few weeks ago that VAG are now offering reconditioned MAF units (complete with guarantee) due to their frequent failure and extremely high cost of purchasing a new one. Maybe you should phone your local dealer to see if these are now available.