The mass airflow or MAF sensor is located behind the air filter so it can measure the air coming into the engine. If it fails, it can indirectly cause a fuel imbalance in the combustion chamber just like the O2 sensor can. Fast Lane Automotive lists the symptoms of a faulty mass airflow sensor below.
Acceleration Lag
A lean fuel mixture, one that has too much air in it, will cause your vehicle’s acceleration to lag. The response to your foot pressure on the accelerator will be sluggish and slow. This is due to misread data sent to the engine control module from the malfunctioning MAF sensor.
Black Engine Exhaust
This misread data can also cause a rich fuel mixture or one that has too much fuel in it. When this happens, your vehicle’s engine has no choice but to burn away the excess fuel. Consequently, you might end up with black engine exhaust pouring out of the tailpipe.
Engine Performance Trouble
Both of these fuel mixtures, lean and rich, can cause engine performance issues. For example, the lean fuel mixture will cause the engine to sputter and struggle at higher speeds; the rich fuel mixture will cause the engine to surge and buck like an unbroken bronco.
Hard Starts/No Starts
Unfortunately, if the dirty MAF sensor leads the engine control module into severely skewing the air-to-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber, you may find it difficult to start your automobile. In fact, your car, truck, or utility vehicle might not start at all.
Poor Fuel Economy
Whether the engine has a lean or rich fuel mixture in the combustion chamber, you will notice a significant difference in your vehicle’s fuel economy. Unfortunately, both imbalances will cause the engine to operate inefficiently and burn more fuel.
Rough Engine Idle
A dirty MAF sensor can also make the engine idle roughly. This is due to a lean fuel mixture. The engine is being fuel-starved by this mixture, and, as a consequence, it is unable to maintain a smooth idle. You will feel your vehicle shake and hear the engine struggle to run when you are idling.
Check Engine Warning
Finally, all of the symptoms listed above can result in a check engine warning. Even though the engine control unit is responsible for the air and fuel mixture in the combustion chamber, the imbalance by the faulty MAF sensor will indirectly cause the check engine light to turn on.
Call Fast Lane Automotive in Orlando, FL, today if you are experiencing any of the problems listed above. We will test your mass airflow sensor and replace it if necessary.
