How To Clean Your Maf Sensor?

[Mark_Smith]

Hello everybody,
The MAF and IAT (Intake Air Temp) sensors sit in the incoming air stream, translating airflow into little 0's and 1's the PCM can use to figure out the amount of necessary fuel to add for proper combustion. Over time these sensors can accumulate dirt, as no air filter stops 100% of incoming silicon particles. When this happens, the car can manifest problems like erratic idle, throttle hesitation, or a general lack of responsiveness.

Good Luck !!!

[Snafu]

Hello everybody,
The MAF and IAT (Intake Air Temp) sensors sit in the incoming air stream, translating airflow into little 0's and 1's the PCM can use to figure out the amount of necessary fuel to add for proper combustion. Over time these sensors can accumulate dirt, as no air filter stops 100% of incoming silicon particles. When this happens, the car can manifest problems like erratic idle, throttle hesitation, or a general lack of responsiveness.

Good Luck !!!


Ok...so how do I clean the sensors? Can I put it in the dishwasher?

[LBV]

Remove the MAF and spray some electronic parts cleaner spray on the sensor filamant itself.

[B1GHAM]

Remove the MAF and spray some electronic parts cleaner spray on the sensor filamant itself.


yeah the general method of cleaning both parts is by using electronic spray cleaners and/or pressurized air to blow any contaminents off of the sensors...

Just becareful with the Maf sensor. The needle in the MAF sensor is directional and resembles that of a record player needle. Very easy to damage.

[Snafu]

This How To thread would have been perfect if there were pics.

Now remember to get the correct spray cleaner. The wrong stuff will damage a MAF sensor.

[Kansei]

They do make MAF-specific cleaner .. at an auto parts store probably near the brake cleaner.

[iracemine]

not quite sure this is a how-to. more like a this-happens.

[Raynman]

How to with pics (http://www.mazda6tech.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=62&Itemid=0)

[amsgator]

our MAF doesnt look like that does it....unless i am missing something.....

[Kansei]

our MAF doesnt look like that does it....unless i am missing something.....

Yeah, it's a mazda6 how-to. Our maf isn't hidden in a little tube, it's just chillin inside the maf housing. The same basic procedure still applies.

[amsgator]

our MAF doesnt look anything like that though....so idk how it comes apart. guess i'll have to look. or can i just shoot the stuff through the plastic grating?

[B1GHAM]

our MAF doesnt look anything like that though....so idk how it comes apart. guess i'll have to look. or can i just shoot the stuff through the plastic grating?


its a double ended tube... one side has plastic grating (to make sure, in the off chance a big piece gets through, it doesnt damage the MAF) and the other is free and clear.

simply remove your airbox/air filter and then remove the MAF... spray it down and let it dry. Also might as well clean the IAT sensor while youre in there.

[Rainman]

How to with pics (http://www.mazda6tech.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=62&Itemid=0)

Thanks for the info R. I changed the title of the thread because I too thought that this thread would tell me how it was done rather than it should be done.

R

[Kansei]

Thanks for the info R. I changed the title of the thread because I too thought that this thread would tell me how it was done rather than it should be done.

R

It appears to have just changed the title of his post, not the actual thread title.

[amsgator]

only a mod can change the title of the thread itself i believe... :-(

[amsgator]

its a double ended tube... one side has plastic grating (to make sure, in the off chance a big piece gets through, it doesnt damage the MAF) and the other is free and clear.

simply remove your airbox/air filter and then remove the MAF... spray it down and let it dry. Also might as well clean the IAT sensor while youre in there.

where is the IAT sensor? thanks for the help w/ the MAF. is it in the same spot?

[Kansei]

where is the IAT sensor? thanks for the help w/ the MAF. is it in the same spot?

On the Protege, the IAT sensor is the little black one that on the wiring harness is the closest to the MAF sensor plug.. it's the other thing on that bundle of wires going to the MAF. It's small, round, plugs into the intake using a rubber grommet. It's location? Couldn't tell you on the stock intake, haven't seen that thing in over 3 years :P

We should start a thread in the Protege how-to section and have mods move the Protege-related posts over there, no?

[amsgator]

On the Protege, the IAT sensor is the little black one that on the wiring harness is the closest to the MAF sensor plug.. it's the other thing on that bundle of wires going to the MAF. It's small, round, plugs into the intake using a rubber grommet. It's location? Couldn't tell you on the stock intake, haven't seen that thing in over 3 years :P

We should start a thread in the Protege how-to section and have mods move the Protege-related posts over there, no?

i'll do a how-to on this once i can get my MAF cleaner. :) what has to be done to clean the IAT? it's not sensitive like the MAF is it? i dont wanna damage the MAF so do i just spray it and around it?

attached pic of my intake. IAT is the sensor b4 the MAF correct?

[Kansei]

yup that's the IAT. I guess if there's oil on it just wipe it off. It isn't sensitive.. like you can touch it and stuff. mine is cracked though (from the accident.. and the fact that it isn't installed in my intake at all, it's just hanging free in the engine bay) so I guess it's still a little fragile, but the MAF is just in a whole nother league of fragility.

We have an IAC as well that it on top of the throttle body and you need a special hollow torx bit to clean it... at over 80k miles I've never cleaned mine.

[amsgator]

so the MAF i can just spray and it will be ok? if i damage that i am f***ed

[Kansei]

i've never cleaned mine.. let me know if you kill it hehe. I have some MAF cleaner but my maf is reeeally tight because the clamps are stretched onto it so I haven't felt like putting forth the effort to get it out.

[amsgator]

gah i dont wanna be the first to clean it. whose done it? what do i need to do and what do i need to NOT do????

[amsgator]

I Refuse To Be The Guinea Pig:)

[PlatinumMSP]

subbing

[jdub260]

I fixed the title of the thread. :D

[amsgator]

thank you. finally. lol

[amsgator]

i bought the maf cleaner today...it was $6.88!!! i almost bought the electronics cleaner right next to it....but decided to play it safe. i will clean it this weekend, my girlfriend is here today and tomorrow so i probably wont get to it til sunday, but i'll take pics and try to write a how to so this can actually rightfully belong in the how-to section.

[Rainman]

I fixed the title of the thread. :D

Thanks brother. I didn't realize until later that I had only changed the title of his post.

R

[amsgator]

how the hell do you get the IAT back in? it's the biggest PITA i have found yet. i keep pushin and twisting and pushin and the grommet wont slide in.....

[amsgator]

i got it guys. i didnt know the grommet came off the sensor. haha i'm stupid.

[amsgator]

wrote this how-to today. hope i covered everything!

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3097578#post3097578

will a mod please move it to the how-to section. thanks!

[amsgator]

Someone please move this to the how-to section. Thanks!!!

Well, after the other "how-to" did a whole lot of nothing other than tell you what the MAF was and what can happen to it, I decided to clean mine today. So here is the how to I made in the process, I hope it helps guys!!! If I left anything out feel free to let me know and I will add it in or you can post it in a separate post.

Difficulty: EASY
Time: 10 minutes

IItems Needed:

*CRC Mass Air Flow Sensor Cleaner (can get at any autoparts store by the brake cleaner)- make sure it has the straw with it. Other people have use electronics cleaner, but I would play it safe when working with something this sensitive and expensive.

*Flat Head Screw Driver

*10mm Socket

http://www.crcindustries.com/catalog/images/Cleaners%20and%20Degreasers/05110.jpg

This how to is based on aftermarket intakes, if you have the stock airbox, accessing your MAF sensor will be different, but the rest is the same.

(The MAF sensor housing is the black box)

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e159/sockerdood/Car%20Pics/DSC01105.jpg

First thing you need to do is unplug the wire harness that is connected to the MAF sensor (be sure to plug this back in when you are done or the car will run like total crap).

Undo the 10mm nut that connects the MAF housing to the bracket and once unplugged, loosen the clamps on the couplers so that you can pull the box out of the intake.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e159/sockerdood/Car%20Pics/DSC01106.jpg

One side of the box will have plastic grating (the part that faces the front of the car) and the other will be unblocked. You will see a thin wire hanging inside the MAF housing, DO NOT TOUCH THE WIRE OR IT WILL BECOME DAMAGED AND YOU MAY NEED TO BUY ANOTHER WHICH IS ABOUT $200. Sorry for the blurry picture but in order to get close enough to see it in the picture it blurred it a little.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e159/sockerdood/Car%20Pics/DSC01108.jpg

Take the MAF sensor cleaner and spray the sensor about 10 times on each side, you will have to stick the straw through the grating but don't touch the sensor and don't get too close or the force from the spray may damage it as well. Once you have sprayed the sensor on both sides you can assemble the intake in reverse order of how you took it apart. Let the sensor dry before you start the car again. Be sure to plug all harnesses back in. And while you are there you can also wipe off the IAT (intake air temperature), but be sure to put that back in as well.

Well that's about all their is to it. If I left anything out let me know or feel free to post below. I hope this helps. It's really easy to do and takes hardly any time, just be careful with the sensor as it is VERY fragile and VERY expensive. Enjoy!

Aaron