If you are finding it more and more difficult to start your automobile, it could be the mass airflow sensor. Also called the MAF sensor, this sensor tracks the amount of air that flows into your engine. It can get dirty and it can malfunction. Getz Automotive lists the signs of the faulty MAF sensor below.
Acceleration Lag
The mass airflow sensor lets the engine control module know how much air is flowing into the engine. If it is malfunctioning, the engine control module may make unnecessary adjustments to the amount of air that is found in the combustion chamber. If there is too much air in the combustion chamber, your vehicle’s acceleration will lag because the engine is fuel-starved.
Black Exhaust Smoke
The opposite of this condition is too much fuel. When this happens, the engine burns away the excess fuel and you end up with black exhaust smoke flowing out of the tailpipe. As you know, you rarely see exhaust coming out of your tailpipe so if you see black exhaust coming out of it, something is wrong.
Engine Performance Problems
If faulty mass airflow sensor can also cause engine performance problems. As with the acceleration lag, too little fuel in the combustion chamber can also make your engine stutter and stall. You will notice this particularly when you are driving at high speeds. When you have a rich fuel mixture in the combustion chamber, the engine will surge as it burns away the extra fuel.
Illuminated Check Engine Light
A dirty MAF sensor can also cause the check engine light to illuminate. There are many reasons connected to the check engine light illumination. First, the mass airflow sensor will likely send an error code to the engine control module. Second, the system sensors will also send error codes as the combustion chamber fills with either air or fuel.
Poor Gas Mileage
A reduction in your vehicle’s gas mileage is also a sign of a malfunctioning MAF sensor. This is because the engine is burning away excess fuel or, if there is too much air in the combustion chamber, struggling to run. Either way, it burns through fuel quicker than normal.
Rough Idling
Finally, a faulty MAF sensor can make your vehicle’s idle rough and unstable. If the engine is seriously fuel-starved, it might stall.
Getz Automotive in Fuquay-Varina, NC, can help. Call us today if you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above. We’d be happy to inspect your automobile, find the problem, and fix it.