You’ll end up with car trouble if your mass airflow sensor (MAF) is faulty, dirty, or failing completely. Integrity Auto Repair explains that this auto part is responsible for measuring how much air comes into your engine while you drive. This measurement helps the engine control unit adjust the air and fuel mixture in the engine’s combustion chamber to make sure your engine is always running efficiently. Here are signs you have a faulty mass airflow sensor below.
Check Engine Warning
Anytime there is an incorrect air-to-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber, the engine control unit will turn on the check engine light. This is because it is receiving an error code that there is either too much or too little air in the combustion chamber.
Acceleration Lag
If there is too much air, you may notice that your acceleration lags when you press down on the gas pedal. Your vehicle may hesitate and then sputter as it tries to pick up speed. This is an indication that the engine is being starved for gasoline.
Idling Roughly
If there is too much air in the combustion chamber, you will also notice that your engine is suddenly idling much rougher than it used to. It needs the proper amount of fuel to be able to idle smoothly. If the MAF is faulty, it’s probably getting too much air.
Low Gas Mileage
The MAF could also be causing the engine control unit to send too much gasoline into the combustion chamber, this is called a rich fuel mixture, and your engine will burn away the excess gasoline that it doesn’t need. This will directly affect how much gas mileage you get per gallon.
Black Exhaust
As the engine burns away the excess gas, you might notice black exhaust flowing out of your tailpipe. This is definitely a sign that there is a problem in your engine, and that problem could be that the MAF has failed completely.
Performance Issues
There are two types of engine performance issues that can happen if your MAF is faulty. Your engine might hesitate and sputter, which is a sign of a lean fuel mixture (too much air). Your engine might also surge, which is a sign of a rich fuel mixture.
Starting Difficulties
Finally, because your automobile’s engine needs the right balance of air and fuel, you may find it getting harder and harder to start your car, truck, utility vehicle, or van if you have a faulty MAF. Depending on the severity of the problem, your vehicle might not start at all.
Integrity Auto Repair is the best auto shop in Eugene, OR, and we’d be happy to inspect your automobile if you notice any of the problems listed above. It could be your mass airflow sensor, or something else could be wrong.
