Commuting with a faulty MAF sensor can be hazardous. That is why you should know about vehicle technology and how to reset mass air flow sensor to fix or reinstall the part.
A bad sensor can slow you down, reduce fuel efficiency, and cause accidents in extreme cases. Resetting the part is one way to tackle the problems of erroneous sensors.
How To Reset Mass Air Flow Sensor
Your new mass air flow sensor not working? Worry not, follow the two simple methods below to fix it.
Two Simple Ways To Reset The Maf Sensor
What to do after replacing mass air flow sensor? Well, you have to reset it. Resetting your car‘s mass flow sensor can also deal with some problems related to this part.
There are two quick and easy approaches to process this task. You can either reset it by disconnecting the battery or idling the engine.
Disconnecting The Battery
- You can start by removing your old sensor. It is the part for flow measurement, somewhat similar to the throttle. You can either clean or try to fix it, then put it back, or you can change it. But how to change MAF sensors? Just put in a new one.
- The next appropriate step is to disconnect the battery from the ground cable. Then you can attach the sensor to its harness.
- For the next 10 minutes, you need to let them stay disconnected.
- After that, reset your vehicle’s system. Now, you have to plug the sensor in. Then you can turn the engine on.
Idling The Engine
- First, to cool your car’s engine down, you need to turn it off. This is very important if you have just used the car.
- After the engine cools down, you can go to the mass air flow sensor location and remove the connector from the sensor’s harness.
- You now have to take the MAF out to clean it. We highly recommend you use some manufactured goods like CRC cleaner. If you want to replace the sensor instead, just put back a new one.
- Then, you would want to start the engine and let its machines run for a few seconds. 5 to 6 seconds should do the trick.
- After that, you need to turn the engine off and connect the sensor to its harness.
- Next, the engine code P0102 will pop up on your dashboard.
- All you need to do now is to clean the memory and start the car. This is basically how to reprogram mass air flow sensor.
Your improved MAF sensor will work wonders if you follow these steps sensibly. But how to know if your mass airflow sensor is bad?
When To Reset The MAF Sensor?
Any damage to your mass airflow sensor will result in some forms of poor performance for your vehicles. There are many ways to know if your sensor has problems or not.
One really easy indicator to spot is to check your engine light code. It codes p0101 for issues of your MAF sensor. So what are the symptoms of a bad mass air flow sensor?
Less Fuel Efficiency
Your engine’s usual fuel efficiency will drop. Faulty mass airflow sensors can cause a severe reduction in gas efficiency. This is because the sensor’s job is to send the airflow data to the car engine.
The engine needs this to know how much gasoline it would require. It is not hard to see why a bad sensor can be so taxing to efficient fuel consumption.
Stalled Engine
When you start your car, if it has a slight delay, high chances are your MAF sensor is the reason for this malfunction.
Though stalling of the car engine can appear owing to other problems, the mass airflow sensor is by far the most common culprit.
Difficulties In Starting
Having difficulties getting your car to start is another symptom of a bad sensor. Your vehicle might need to take a lot of time to get going. It can also have a slight jerk.
Jerking While Accelerating
Upon accelerating, if your car jerks in an unusual way, this could be another sign. As you push down the accelerator, it might also be like the car engine hesitates to move forward.
Hiccups Happen In The Engine
The engine of your car will show hiccup-like symptoms when you are driving. Bad MAF sensors can also be the root of this.
This is a serious problem as it can lead to extreme inconveniences and trouble for driving and maneuvering.
Therefore, if you have any experience like those above, you might want to check your MAF sensor. It’s best to find out as soon as possible if there is a problem with that part.
The part might need a thorough cleaning or a replacement even. When you reinstall the MAF sensor, you should reset it.
Replace The Mass Air Flow Sensor By Yourself
Maintaining or replacing the mass airflow sensor is not in any way a challenging task. It is crucial yet easy to perform, even when doing it yourself.
However, we recommend you visit a pro mechanic if you are not feeling confident enough or don’t have the time and equipment.
For the replacement of these sensors, the price can vary a lot. It depends on and correlates to the quality of this particular part. It can cost you anywhere between $90 and $370 or higher.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Happens When The Maf Sensor Goes Bad?
Like any other malfunctioning part of any machines, a bad MAF sensor can result in your car experiencing issues with poor drivability. These can include the stalling of the car engine and the hesitation or jerking upon acceleration.
If this happens while you are speeding up, it can get very dangerous. You can’t pull over when you are on a highway. And on a city street, it can be very difficult because it tends to be crowded.
These preventable problems with the part can put you in dangerous situations. They can injure you or cause major accidents.
Can You Drive A Car Without The MAF Sensor?
It is unexpected, but it’s a yes. And the more surprising thing is that you can find the driving experience to be better without the inclusion of a MAF sensor.
Although driving is fine, doing this may cause horrible fuel mileage.
You also need to realize that different vehicles use different technology and mechanical engineering. So, if your emission system needs a sensor to operate, you cannot drive well without it.
How To Increase The Longevity Of A MAF Sensor?
One of the easiest ways to make the sensor last longer is to clean the air filter on a regular basis.
This is to maintain your MAF sensor in the best condition possible. You can also take the part out once every so often for cleaning.
You can also opt to use Stabilant 22A. It is an initially non-conductive block polymer. And when you apply it to the electrical pins, it can help with thermal management.
You will no longer have to worry about your sensor getting overheated. However, you ought to be wary of your budget since it is not cheap. A more affordable alternative is isopropyl alcohol.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we would like to stress that it is important for you to know how to reset mass air flow sensor. Resetting this part can bypass a lot of its problems.
Even when you don’t know what causes a mass airflow sensor to go bad, it’s always better to deal with the issue first.
If you follow those steps above, you can have better, safer drives. We hope that you find this guide helpful and informative.