Mass Airflow Sensor Service

What is a Mass Airflow Sensor and How Does it Work?

Your mass airflow sensors (MAF) measure the amount of air entering the engine and they report the amount to your powertrain control module, which in turn uses the input to calculate the engine load and adjust the air to gas ratio as needed. The most commonly used MAF uses two wires for sensing. One wire is heated and the other wire is not. The MAF computer determines the amount of air entering your engine by how much current it takes to keep the hot wire 200 degrees hotter than the unheated wire. As the temperature changes between the two wires, the MAF will increase or decrease current to the heated wire to move more air into the engine or less air into the engine as needed for combustion.

Signs of a Faulty MAF

There are some signs to alert you to needing MAF services. Your engine may run rich when it's idling or it may run lean under a load. These items indicate that your MAF has a faulty hot wire from many different items. If you have a noticeable change in fuel economy, your MAF may continually be reporting the wrong information to your powertrain control module and it will need replacing. If your MAF has completely failed, it will not send any airflow information to the powertrain control module and the fuel won't be controlled properly. This results in a very rough idling engine or an engine that won't idle at all. 

Choose the Experts for Your Mass Airflow Sensor Services

You should schedule a service with a certified service center, such as Tom Wood Volkswagen for your mass airflow sensor services. We have certified technicians and a large inventory of VW parts in stock at all times, to translate into experienced and quick services for you. We are your trusted dealership in the Indianapolis area.

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