Also called the MAF sensor, the mass airflow sensor is located behind the engine’s air filter. The reason why it is found in this location is that it measures the air flowing into the engine. It sends these measurements to the engine control module, also called the ECM, so the ECM knows whether to add air to the combustion chamber. A faulty MAF sensor can trick the ECM into adding unnecessary air. When this happens, Vielhaber’s Garage advises you may experience one or more of the following engine performance issues.
Hard Starts
An engine that has too much air in the combustion chamber will be difficult to start. This is because the fuel mixture is lean. In other words, there isn’t enough fuel in the combustion chamber to fire up the engine and make it run efficiently. A malfunctioning mass airflow sensor can make it difficult to start your automobile.
Stalling
It can also make your car, truck, or utility vehicle stall right after you get it started. Frequent stalling definitely suggests that there is a problem with the fuel delivery and this could be due to a faulty MAF sensor. It could be that the ECM is simply not sending enough fuel to the combustion chamber because it thinks it needs more air.
Stress Hesitation
You will also notice hesitation in your acceleration and engine performance when your vehicle is under stress. For example, assume for a moment that you are driving a truck and hauling a small trailer behind it. If the acceleration and engine performance is lagging, this could be because you have a lean fuel mixture due to a faulty MAF sensor.
Acceleration Lag
Your acceleration may also lag or jerk even if your vehicle isn’t under stress. By now, you realize that the lean fuel mixture makes it difficult for your automobile to perform. Things that create a lean fuel mixture include a bad MAF sensor, a malfunctioning oxygen sensor, or clogged fuel injectors.
Hiccupping Engine
Your vehicle’s acceleration isn’t the only thing that will suffer. Your engine may also hiccup as you drive along because it doesn’t have enough fuel. This fuel starvation can definitely affect your engine’s performance.
Lean/Rich Idling
Finally, you may also notice the lean fuel mixture when your vehicle idles. This being said, a faulty mass airflow sensor can also trick the ECM into creating a rich will mixture in the combustion chamber. If you’re idle is rich, your engine will stutter and you may smell gasoline or diesel fuel.
Vielhaber’s Garage in Findlay, OH, would be happy to get to the bottom of the engine performance issues listed above. If it is the mass airflow sensor, we can replace it.
