I cleaned the mass air flow sensor from my 2000 Vectra DI today as recommended by a 'friend' with Isopropyl alcohol. Anyway, I was very careful with the sensor, and after putting it back into the black plastic air tube and then back into the car, the engine management light is now permanently on and the car is very sluggish. Does anyone know of a good diesel specialist in the Warrington/Manchester area? Does anyone know how much a typical Bosch MAF sensor is? That is the last time I listen to my mate and his car maintenance tips!
Thanks,
Richard
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This a common problem on modern diesel engines; the Rover 75 suffers from road dirt on the sensor wires, a simple clean and all is well.
VAG vehicles seem to have an appetite for MAF sensors; a typical sensor costs around £207
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Thanks, I would have thought water was perhaps not a good idea, but I will bear that in mind for the future. £207!!! Bloomin' heck! I will not be meddling with the MAF ever again! I will have to phone round a few diesel centres tomorrow to see if I can get hold of one. I do not fancy using my car much until the sensor is fixed, it is bloody slow!
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Sorry, I should have made that clearer, it suffers from a build up of road dirt on the sensing hotwire within the sensor; the technical fix? Wash it with hot water and rinse with de-mineralised water!
Apparently, SAAB are suffering the same problem..
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That would be because SAAB use the same engine - well the 2200 version, in the 9-3 and very recently the 9-5.
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Hard to see how alcohol could have done any harm, though I stand to be corrected. I would check to make sure I hadn't loosened any plug-in connectors in the vicinity of the sensor.
Bono
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Well, I forgot to mention that I used a cotton bud on a stick to clean the wires etc. I think that was perhaps a bad idea, but I was very careful and I can't understand what went wrong. I have checked the MAF conection plug and it seems to be well secured. There is not much else in the area that I could have disturbed. I cleaned a thin metal wire which is about 4cm long and doubles back on itself like a 'U', and metal plate and some more metal bits which were enclosed partially in a plastic housing on the sensor. Everything on the sensor looks intact.
I am rather P*&sed off, the car was running fine until I meddled with it, I suppose I have learn't an expensive lesson here! Does anyone know if this is just a standard part? Is this particular sensor just designed for a Vauxhall engine?
Thanks.
PS any leads to a cheap MAF supplier would be much appreciated!
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Mark might have a point if it works on your car and if you're brave enough.
> I am rather P*&sed off, the car was running fine until I
> meddled with it,
But I thought you posted recently that the light had come on, more than momentarily, on the motorway, with an accompanying loss of power?
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Yes, you are right. The light did come on temporarily whilst at motorway speeds, and this I think is down to a possibly faulty crankshaft sensor, but the car drove fine. I thought I would clean the maf to see if that made any improvement as I have cleaned it before using non-residue electronics cleaner in an aerosol, which I think is called 'Electrowash'. However on this occasion I got a bit more adventerous and used some alcohol and cotton buds. I was surprised at how dirty the sensor and some of the pipework was. The airfilter is quite new and has been properly installed. Since putting the maf back in after cleaning, this is the first time the light has been permanently on. I will be seeing if any diesel specialist in Warrington can help me tomorrow.
By the way, when I turn the ignition on, the management light comes on goes off as it normally would. When engine is started, the light comes on after about 15 seconds of idling. The car is VERY slow for about 30 seconds of driving, then the car regains about 50% of it's power until it is turned off again.
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You didn't switch the ignition on while the sensor was disconnected did you ?
I wonder if for some reason the computer has decided that there is a problem, where perhaps there isn't. I wonder how you reset the computers on those. Isit as simple as disconnecting the battery for a period of time ?
M.
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If the Mass Air Flow meter is the same as fitted to the Vaxhall 2.5 TD (BMW) engine I just happen to have a good used one in stock.
Andrew
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If it was the right one, how much would you be looking for it? the sensor is marked with the following info.
F OOC 2G2 030
966 302A
816 (printed inside a circle)
>PBT-GF30<
027291
These are all the codes printed around the maf sensor itself. I have absolutely no idea what they mean!
Thanks for your help.
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Got it in my hand ( MAF Sensor that is ). Its made by Pierburg, has the GM logo on and underneath the logo 90 528 813 which according to the box is the part number. Check your e-mails.
Andrew.
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Thanks for that, I just sent you an email asking if you had the part number so please ignore that one! I will seek some advice tomorrow and will let you know if your sensor would be compatible with the GM Ecotec engine.
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What if he gave it some welly in the 15 secs before it goes ape?
Good luck Richard.
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The car maintenance tip was a good one. The mistake was putting a cotton bud on the wire. The way to clean it is in a plastic bag (with no holes), and shake it about with the isopropyl alcohol in there. Then leave it to dry naturally.
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Went to a local Vauxhall parts dept. this morning and bought a new MAF and a new air filter. Fitted the new maf and all is fine. The car definately is more responsive now and I replaced the air filter as a precaution. Well, I was very careful when cleaning the sensor, but Todd is right, the cotton bud was a bad idea! Next time if I dare, I may just leave it to soak in isopropyl alcohol in a clean jam jar. The cost of the sensor was £151 incl. vat. Funnily enough, several garages I phoned up had at least 10 in stock...I wonder if there is a problem with these sensors?!
Thanks everyone!
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Good, glad to hear it Richard.
It is an industry wide problem at the moment, thats why they are in stock!
Yep, it was definately the cotton bud which killed it......
What make was the sensor? Was it Pierburg or Bosch?
The price wasn't too bad, that was for a Bosch Unit from a SEAT dealer (£207)
I thought the hot water and rinse with distilled water was a bit Heath Robinson, but it worked!
SAAB do have a special aerosol available specifically for this purpose
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It was a Bosch sensor and it included the black plastic tube which it is mounted inside, about 15cm long and 10cm in diameter, which simply connects to the large rubber pipes between the air box and the turbo.
I could see no visible damage done by the cotton bud, but everyone note: MAF sensors are very fragile, MAF sensors are very, very fragile, MAF sensors are extremely fragile!! Never touch any metal bits on the sensor, in fact if it is mounted in a protective tube, it is best to leave it in there and as Dave and others suggest, just rinse it with distilled water or possibly soak the sensor in alcohol. I still believe that cleaning this sensor should be part of routine maintenance, and should perhaps done every time the air filter is changed.
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"It is an industry wide problem at the moment, thats why they are in stock!"
Not wishing to take issue with you Dr Dave as I'm sure in essence you are right but......
remember this one from beginning of Feb?
www.honestjohn.co.uk/phorum/read.php?f=1&i=37462&t...f
Well after much investigation and gentle hints, followed by not so gentle hints, the dealer and presumably lease company have finally agreed that the mass air flow meter *is* up the spout. Guess what? We'll have to order you one sir.
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