How to: Clean the MAF Sensor

[lvemy3100]

Not much to this but to do it...
What you need:
T27 Torx Bit
Ratchet
Ratchet Extension
Sensor Safe MAF Cleaning Spray
Q-tips
http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu5/lvemy3100/DCFC0106.jpg
http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu5/lvemy3100/DCFC0100.jpg
http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu5/lvemy3100/DCFC0097.jpg
http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu5/lvemy3100/DCFC0098.jpg
http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu5/lvemy3100/DCFC0099.jpg
Spray EVERYTHING down with the cleaning spray. Then VERY VERY CAREFULLY take the qtips and after spraying them with the cleaning spray clean the metal inside the plastic piece. On this particular sensor it took 1.5 qtips to clean the sensor completely.
http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu5/lvemy3100/DCFC0103.jpg
http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu5/lvemy3100/DCFC0104.jpg
http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu5/lvemy3100/DCFC0105.jpg
Now that everything is all clean again.. put it back together DUH.. lol
http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu5/lvemy3100/DCFC0101.jpg
Be sure to get the sensor facing the right way..
http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu5/lvemy3100/DCFC0102.jpg
Enjoy the better MPG and Performance!!!

And for those who care yes you must keep the screen in your MAF sensor in order to straighten the airflow out over the sensor thus giving a more accurate reading of airflow vs. that of a sensor without a screen. Also there is NO need for upgrading the size of MAF unless you are maxing out the stock one and since you can run 10lbs of boost on the stock maf and not max it I dont wanna hear anyone say that they are maxing their stocker without boost.. lol

[cherrington17]

thanks for the write up.

please learn to use macro zoom.

[[ion] C2]

They look to be taken with a camera phone, so... no macro.

[lvemy3100]

not a camera phone but an old digi cam.. polaroid a520

no macro feature but thanks for bitchin.. lol

[Atmosphere]

Nice guide! Would this really improve anything though?

[lvemy3100]

Nice guide! Would this really improve anything though?

if your sensor is dirty at all then it will improve your MPG and performance

[lvemy3100]

bump...

[comanche]

Well, I know they sell MAF cleaner... but...

What I've been taught by experienced techs is that using MAF cleaner will remove the protective coating on the sensor.

Once you clean it once, you will need to clean it much more often.

So keep that in mind.

(though yes, I know the price of a new MAF sensor)

[Nate's Alero]

so, could i just use water and qtips? i mean, i dont NEED MAF cleaner, i just want to clean it lol

[Kilroy]

Ah hell, just disassemble it and put it in your dishwasher on gentle cycle. :) :) :)

[lvemy3100]

Well, I know they sell MAF cleaner... but...

What I've been taught by experienced techs is that using MAF cleaner will remove the protective coating on the sensor.

Once you clean it once, you will need to clean it much more often.

So keep that in mind.

(though yes, I know the price of a new MAF sensor)

well apparently they either werent using CRC cleaner or they never read the can.... it clearly states that it cleans and protects the sensor. I also highly doubt that a product made specifically to clean the sensor would also damage it.

[Redog]

Good write up.,

~Sticky-ed

[99alerogirl]

i just did this, along with cleaning the TB. holy moley, i don't think either have been done in the 132,000 miles she has on her. both were absolutely DISGUSTING. and now she idles a LOT better. i definitely suggest doing this along with cleaning the TB... it really improves performance, especially if it's never been done.

[Nate's Alero]

I Did mine, i'm seeing an improvement of about 10mpg

[99alerogirl]

i've only driven 1.5 miles since doing mine, so i can't vouch for any MPG improvement quite yet! haha

[Kilroy]

When I cleaned mine, i just removed the air cleaner and sprayed the MAF cleaner into the intake with the engine running. It did run smopother afterwards!

[lvemy3100]

When I cleaned mine, i just removed the air cleaner and sprayed the MAF cleaner into the intake with the engine running. It did run smopother afterwards!

...bad idea

you're lucky that nothing happend to your motor or the sensor itself

[Kilroy]

...bad idea

you're lucky that nothing happend to your motor or the sensor itself

What could it do tot he motor OR the MAF?? I am sure that was the instructions on the can itself.

[jayson_waltz]

^it won't hurt it, it just might not get it as clean as this posted method.

[lvemy3100]

^it won't hurt it, it just might not get it as clean as this posted method.

actually as I stated previously it CAN hurt it which is why its a bad idea

you are spraying chemicals in your intake while the engine is running and the sensor is powered up... this is the reason why you are supposed to let the sensor dry before reassembling it.

[Nate's Alero]

Before Cleaning MAF : 220 miles/tank

After Cleaning MAF : 310 Miles/tank

idle's a LOT better, runs smoother, i love it

[chevypower91]

Hey guys,

How do you go about cleaning the maf sensor (if it has one) on a 2.2 ecotec?

[foxsdaddy67]

would carb cleaner work?

[a.graham52]

would carb cleaner work?

no. that shit is too strong and could easily damage it

[Williamleo]

Sounds like a great Saturday job! Wally World of course didn't have the MAF cleaner, Car Quest was closed. Where did you get the right cleaner?

[a.graham52]

got mine from advanced. napa also has it.

[d_oz]

Could you guys take a picture or explain where I can find the MAF sensor on a 2000 alero gls

[heineck]

WILLIAMLEO u know thats a pic of ur IAT right not MAF.

[Shiwnath]

http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp222/d1pl0mat5/IMG_0342MAF.jpg

Even though I have a Cold Air Intake, the MAF is still basically in the stock location.

[d_oz]

Shiwnath...i see you have aftermarket spark plug wires. did you have that professionally installed or DIY? Im having trouble accessing all the spark plugs and couldn't find a clear how-to on the forum. any info would be great.

[Shiwnath]

Did it myself. I just pulled the old wires and felt for the plug and just removed with a spark plug socket and rachet. then felt for the hole and with the new spark plug in the spark plug socket, I manually screwed in the new plug then tightened with a rachet. It may help if you have a small bathroom mirror. As long as you keep note of the general area of where the spark plug should be, its not too difficult.

[Hellfire5670]

i have 240,000 KM on my car.... maybe thats why i get no fuel mileage...

[Shiwnath]

i have 240,000 KM on my car.... maybe thats why i get no fuel mileage...

There are plenty of things that cause poor mileage... dirty Air filter, spark plugs, ignition coils, spark plug wires, fuel filter, tire pressure and much more...at 240,000KM its probably would be a good thing to look into all of these as well as a dirty MAF if you haven't already.

[Hellfire5670]

There are plenty of things that cause poor mileage... dirty Air filter, spark plugs, ignition coils, spark plug wires, fuel filter, tire pressure and much more...at 240,000KM its probably would be a good thing to look into all of these as well as a dirty MAF if you haven't already.

This i know i need to do i full tune on my car.. i will be changing the plugs and wires new intake system tires are always good ;D maybe ill change it while my car sits in the bush

[Shiwnath]

This i know i need to do i full tune on my car.. i will be changing the plugs and wires new intake system tires are always good ;D maybe ill change it while my car sits in the bush

Also you should buy some throttle body cleaner and clean the throttle body too..its something a lot of people over look when doing general maintainace. If your throttlebody is dirty enough, it can hurt your gas mileage.

[Hellfire5670]

Also you should buy some throttle body cleaner and clean the throttle body too..its something a lot of people over look when doing general maintainace. If your throttlebody is dirty enough, it can hurt your gas mileage.

i was thinking of this but wasn't sure if i should :P but that works! i used to have great fuel mileage but driving a day thats half a tank after i ge paid ill buy all the new plugs wires and cleaning maybe even a cold air!

[JakeBrake]

where is the MAF on a 2.2 ecotec?

[03glgold]

where is the MAF on a 2.2 ecotec?

from what i understand there isn't one instead we have a MAP (mass air pressure sensor) and I believe it is as the air enters in past the throttle body

[Shiwnath]

from what i understand there isn't one instead we have a MAP (mass air pressure sensor) and I believe it is as the air enters in past the throttle body

A MAP sensor is a manifold absolute pressure sensor. The 3400 has both a MAP and MAF.. The 2.2 has only the MAP.. They both serve essentially the same purpose. Think of the MAP as an internal way to measure the volume of air and the MAF as an external way to measure the volume of air.

The MAF measures the rate of air flow to determine how much air your engine is intaking where as the MAP measures the pressure of the air to determine how much air your engine is intaking.

To me, a MAP is more accurate because it's closer to where the combustion happens. With a MAF, if you have an air leak just right after the MAF( such as forgetting to put the throttlebody gasket back on or an air hose leak), atleast the MAP can determine the actual air volume getting into the engine.

[JakeBrake]

so is there no way to clean the MAP? in a 2.2 ecotec?

[guiguilandry]

There is no NEED to clean the map sensor as it senses pressure/vacuum located between the throttlebody and cylinder, airflow doesn't past through it...

so is there no way to clean the MAP? in a 2.2 ecotec?

[MMGT1]

I found in mine, a 3400, as the maf would get dirty fuel trims would go lean. What I have deduced is this: as a MAF gets dirty it looses its ability for heat to be transfered to the incoming air. This is how our MAF works. It keps the sensor at x temp while active. Incoming air cools the wires and the computer is reading, in Hz, what is required to bring the sensor back to temp. This drop in temp and raise in electrical output is how the computer determines the amount of air incoming. Then it is using the IAT sensor to adjust timing for said temp of incoming air. When the sensor becomes dirty, it can no longer read the incoming air as the air can pass over the sensor without properly cooling it causing a lean condition! Your #1 O2 sensor reads the "malfunction" and adds fuel to try and fix it. This goes back and fourth for a while until the PCM learns the God awful trim that it is being tricked into. Bottom line, it will wind up rich when the car "thinks" it's fine causing bad mileage. If anyone has any other thoughts on it go for it!
But I will say this, a MAF out performs a MAP sensor any day of the week. A map cannot make changes as quickly as a MAF, period. Having the MAP properly working is very important for startup and for entering PE mode, but the MAF is where it's at guys!!