Service Masters is the best auto shop in Clearwater, and we would be happy to clean or replace the mass airflow sensor when it needs it. This sensor is also called the MAF sensor, and its primary responsibility is to keep track of the air that flows into the engine. It lets the engine control unit or ECU know how much air is in the engine. If the data it provides is skewed, the ECU may add air to the combustion chamber that will make your engine idle roughly.
Acceleration Trouble
Your car, truck, or SUV will also have problems accelerating if there is too much air in the combustion chamber. Unfortunately, the ECU will continue to make unnecessary adjustments until the MAF sensor is cleaned or replaced and returning correct data.
Performance Trouble
As you can imagine, the excess air in the combustion chamber will also cause engine performance problems. Your engine will sputter and struggle to run. If the ECU has added fuel unnecessarily to the combustion chamber, your engine will surge and pick up speed.
Reduced Fuel Economy
All of these performance problems are going to cause a reduction in the fuel economy that your vehicle gets. Consequently, you won’t get the miles that you normally get out of a full tank of diesel fuel or gasoline. Who would’ve thought an MAF sensor could cause such problems?
Black Exhaust Smoke
Another sign that there is too much fuel in the combustion chamber is black exhaust smoke flowing out of the tailpipe. Again, the MAF sensor could misunderstand how much air is in the engine. Consequently, the incorrect data may result in an excess fuel burn.
Hard Starts/No Starts
In some cases, the data is so skewed that it becomes difficult to start your automobile. In severe cases, you may not be able to start the vehicle at all. This is a sign that the engine is completely fuel-starved or being flooded by fuel. This makes starting the vehicle nearly impossible.
Check Engine Warning
Finally, the engine problems discussed above can trigger the ECU to turn on the check engine light. It doesn’t understand that it is indirectly the source of the problem. It adjusts the air and fuel in the combustion chamber based on the MAF sensor’s readings.
Service Masters in Clearwater, FL, is here to help, so give us a call today so we can check the MAF sensor to see if it is dirty or malfunctioning.