The Mass Airflow (MAF) sensor is crucial to your engine’s performance. It measures and reports to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) how much air is flowing into the engine. The ECU uses this information to make adjustments to the amount of air that is pushed through to the combustion chamber. Fountain City Auto Clinic warns that if the MAF sensor is malfunctioning and sending incorrect numbers, you will notice the following problems.
Acceleration Troubles
If the ECU has sent too much air into the combustion chamber, your automobile’s acceleration will lag. You will press down on the accelerator but your vehicle’s response will be to sputter and stutter before it picks up speed. In severe cases, your vehicle may not pick up speed.
Black Engine Exhaust
If the ECU has sent too much fuel into the combustion chamber, your engine will burn the excess gasoline away. Consequently, you will end up with black exhaust flowing out of your tailpipe. This can be a dangerous sign, so stop driving your automobile.
Engine Performance Issues
Too much air in the engine will cause the engine to stutter and sputter just as it causes the acceleration to do so. Too much fuel in the engine will cause the engine to surge forward and buck. Your engine will not operate smoothly in response to your commands as easily as it normally does.
Poor Gas Mileage
Both of these conditions can also cause a reduction in your vehicle’s fuel economy. If the engine is burning away excess fuel, you will go through a full tank much more quickly. If the engine is struggling, it will burn through the fuel much more quickly to operate.
Rough Idling
You may also notice that your idling has become rough. This is a sign that there is too much air in the engine and not enough fuel. The fuel starvation makes it hard for the combustion chamber to stay lit so to speak. Consequently, your engine will sputter as it idles.
Check Engine Warning
Finally, all of these things will cause the check engine light to come on. This is because the ECU is receiving error codes due to the faulty mass airflow sensor. Once it receives the first error code, it will turn on the check engine light and keep it lit until such time as the mass airflow sensor is replaced.
Call Fountain City Auto Clinic in Knoxville, TN, to schedule an appointment for your automobile if you’re experiencing any of the problems listed above. It could be that your mass airflow sensor has gone bad.