The mass airflow (MAF) sensor can cause all sorts of trouble if it gets too dirty and starts to malfunction. Premier Auto Repair advises that if your vehicle’s acceleration has started to lag, this could be a problem with the MAF sensor. This sensor reports the air inflow into the engine to the engine control module (ECM). If it reports incorrect inflow data, the module may add extra air to the combustion chamber by mistake. This will make your vehicle’s acceleration lag.
Poor Engine Performance
It will also cause additional engine performance problems such as sputtering and misfiring. This is because the engine is fuel-starved because the combustion chamber is stuffed with air that it doesn’t need. Cleaning or replacing the MAF sensor can usually solve the problem.
Roughness to the Idle
Another thing your engine will do when there is too much air in the combustion chamber is it will idle roughly. You may notice this more than any of the other signs that the MAF sensor is bad. This is because you can hear and feel what the engine is doing when you are sitting at an idle.
Sporadic Engine Surges
The MAF sensor can also trick the ECM into adding extra fuel to the combustion chamber when it doesn’t need it. When this happens, your engine will surge sporadically as it burns away the excess fuel. These unexpected speed hikes can make driving your car, truck, or utility vehicle difficult.
Reduction in Gas Mileage
It is of consequence that all of these engine performance problems will cause a noticeable reduction in your vehicle’s fuel economy. Unfortunately, when the engine is struggling to run or surging, it burns more fuel than it normally would. This reduces the gas mileage your automobile gets.
Black Engine Exhaust
Extra fuel in the combustion chamber can also cause puffs of black exhaust to flow out of the tailpipe when the engine surges. This black exhaust is a result of the engine burning away the excess fuel. Cleaning the MAF sensor may resolve the problem if the sensor is not malfunctioning.
Hard Starts or No Starts
If things get really bad in the combustion chamber, you may have difficulty starting your automobile or it may not start at all. This is a sign that the engine is severely fuel-starved or it is flooded by fuel.
Finally, Premier Auto Repair in Tyler, TX, advises that all of these things might cause the ECM to turn on the check engine light on your vehicle’s dashboard. Give us a call today for an MAF sensor inspection.
