Clean your Air Mass Sensor !!!!!

[Killerwhat?]

Hello everyone I'm a Forum newb!

Do any of these sound familiar:

Unstable idle
Hesitation between gear changes
Flat spots
Engine speeds up when you lift off - yes really !
Throttle 'hangs' between changes
Missfire above 4000Well. I've scoured the forums for something definitive on all the above which have plagued my s/h (125 k) A6 1.8T Avant (petrol) since I bought it a year ago. So I finally bit the bullet, took out its Air Mass Sensor (often referred to as the MAF) and cleaned it.

What a transformation :biglaugh: , it finally feels like the car I always thought it should have been !

Want to know how ? reply to this thread, it took me about an hour.

Cheers ! :beerchug:

[clogman]

Ah but....

I tried the same trick, fixed the car up a treat (I thought) then it failed its MOT because emissions were all over the place.

Fitted a new MAF (exchange unit from Audi for about £60) and all the emissions fell back to very low levels and the car ran sweet as a nut.

Hope a simple clean works for you, shame it didn't for me in the long run.

[Killerwhat?]

Oh ye of little faith !

There's always someone who wants to burst your bubble of euphoria but seriously I suppose I'll have to wait and see at next MOT, at least I'll know where the damned thing is and how to change it.
Car still goes well, better fuel consumption and much more satisfying to drive.
Just got to get it to steer nicely now !


Any advice ?

[Killerwhat?]

A6 Avant 1.8 T petrol 1999

[redadair]

This reminds me of a similar incident I had last year when I too suffered the same problem i.e flat spots and unstable idle. When the cause was diagnosed and resolved I had the added benefit of improved oil consumption!

[Kev.trebuan]

I don't suppose a dirty MAF could account for a 2.0 8V cutting on acceleration could it?:zx11:

[Killerwhat?]

Yep sure could !

To add to this thread, I just got it MOT'd and it was well inside all the tests.
Just got back from towing a 16 foot caravan to north devon and can report a very satisfactory experience. avge fuel consumption of 25 mpg over 800 miles (500 towing). Easy 70+ on the motorways and good performance on ordinary roads.

[giblets]

Oh ye of little faith !

There's always someone who wants to burst your bubble of euphoria but seriously I suppose I'll have to wait and see at next MOT, at least I'll know where the damned thing is and how to change it.
Car still goes well, better fuel consumption and much more satisfying to drive.
Just got to get it to steer nicely now !


Any advice ?

I got a 2nd hand A6 2.7T and the first thing I spent time (and money) on was the steering characteristics. I didn't muck about and got all the bushes done, then the front wishbones (cheaper than you might think), got all the bearings checked but didn't bother with the steering rack. The steering and cornering characteristics improved enormously.

Next job was disks and brakes, then tyres (michelin).

The car has now got more grip than a very grippy thing; only problem is, I took the michael, pushed it hard on the 3rd world roads we have round my way and promply (within 3 months) got a bit of looseness back in the system, and a bush-knock. My own stupid fault. :aargh4:

Try all this before you go for the steering rack itself!

[buster]

pushed it hard on the 3rd world roads we have round my way

Live in South Yorkshire eh? ;)

[giblets]

Live in South Yorkshire eh? ;)

Er, not quite - sunny, druggy sussex by the sea! You could pick just about any part of this country at the moment and it is very similar to any third world gaff you cn think of, including the corruption and roads. :beerchug:

[James H]

Hello all from another newcomer to the forum

- I don't know whether this thread might be the answer to my problem. Just bought a 1999 A6 Avant 2.5 TDi and am a bit unimpressed by the performance compared to the chipped Passat TDi it replaces.

There is no sign of the turbo coming on boost - is this the way it should be? - and it just doesn't seem to pull as I expected. At 4000 rpm it stops pulling as if it has hit a wall - I know max output is at 4000 ish, but still ....

Any ideas anyone? MAFF? Fouled injectors (no dirty exhaust or rough idling)? er, something else entirely?

thanks in anticipation.

James.

[KentGuy]

Sure I want to know how, but I also want to know where it is in the engine bay... can you help ?

[idua02]

Got the same issues on my A6, do you mind sharing how u cleaned it?

[CloggsA6]

I have a missing problem on my A6 2.4. I have posted here. Changed the plugs - thats how it started!... a camshaft sensor and now toying with HT leads. Could it be a MAF??? I remember my 80 TDi's was stuffed when I px'd it but the guy who took it in reflected that in the price! Cheeky sod.

[kevnewcastle]

Steve, Can you tell me how to change the MAF? I do my own oil, plug, filter changes and often wonder if there are other things I should do keep it tip-top. This sounds like one of those things?

Thanks

Kev.

[Col]

Interesting subject this one.

I was at one point convinced that cleaning was the way forward on this and used to do it regularly, even did a how-to on it on the UKMKIV's forum.

But I'm afraid in my case with my Golf, all it did was have a placebo effect whereby you thought it was actually doing something. It didn't

When I eventually fitted a new MAf the difference was dramatic, performance was back and so was the fuel economy.

The problem seems to be the the degredation of the MAF is very gradual so that you don't notice it if your driving the car daily.

[ladyinred]

Howzit Steve...

I live down here in sunny South Africa and drive an A6 Avant 2.6E V6
ABC engine. Please share with me how u go about chanfing/cleaning MAF sensor..

Thanks in advance

[brickit]

A MAF is a cylindrical shaped device that is located inbertween the air filter housing and the inlet manifold (or turbo if you have one). It will have an electrical connection with 4 -5 wires.
A dead easy job to remove.

[gooders30]

i'll try this one out it might save me a few quid

[Paulieb]

Hi there, I'm responding to an old post you made back in Feb. I'd like to know how you cleaned your MAF!! If that's not too much of a personal question.

Paulieb :beerchug:

[webchem]

Has anyone taken any piccies of cleaning a MAF?

I think mine might need a bit of a polish(?), how do I take it out? Which bits should I clean? Are there any pitfalls - like can I screw up the engine?

[webchem]

Aha - have found the desired instructions here - what do people think?

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1446627

[toff]

Aha - have found the desired instructions here - what do people think?


That guide is ok, but you don't need to clean the entire MAF housing.

You need to undo the two star-shaped screws to remove just the MAF sensor itself. You will then have access to clean the small evaporation plate (strip of metal) with isopropanol and a cotton bud.

Hope that helps - Alex.

[ruudx2]

Hi I have an AUdi A4 1.8 1998, idle all over place, can you tell me how to clean the MAF if you think this will help? Thanks

[mark2004uk]

Mine have failed the MOT thet had to turn off the emission testing equipment to stop it getting damaged, Is the MAF Easy to fit and in view under the bonnet. And a silly question I downloaded a cataloge for cats (not the animal) and it said Audio A6 2.0 with out cat, how do I know if my car has a cat converter ? I really know nothin anout cars :1zhelp::1zhelp::1zhelp::1zhelp:




Ah but....

I tried the same trick, fixed the car up a treat (I thought) then it failed its MOT because emissions were all over the place.

Fitted a new MAF (exchange unit from Audi for about £60) and all the emissions fell back to very low levels and the car ran sweet as a nut.

Hope a simple clean works for you, shame it didn't for me in the long run.

[sparky1975]

I have an 1998 2.4 V6 Petrol and I'm experiencing eratic idling. Could this be the Air mass sensor and if so what does it look like.

[milkman445]

I use to own a nissan primera and the maf also use to get gunked up. The guide for that recommended to spray carb cleaner on the metal strip. It can up bright silver, just had to make sure it had dried before refitting.

Could I use carb cleaner on my car now? It's a Passat B5.5 1.8t.

[jagabizo]

Hi can you help me, how can I clean my MAF? I own a 1999 Passat 1.8T AEB. It's happening the folowing:

In first gear it would rev to 5000rpm and then cut out
On hard acceleration the (3rd gear and above) the engine will not rev beyond 4000-4500 rpm. It does not feel like a misfire, just as if the rev limiter has cut in early.

Think it might be the MAF?

Any Help?

[nibbler]

tell me how.........my good man

[wilfys]

Hello everyone I'm a Forum newb!

Do any of these sound familiar:

Unstable idle
Hesitation between gear changes
Flat spots
Engine speeds up when you lift off - yes really !
Throttle 'hangs' between changes
Missfire above 4000Well. I've scoured the forums for something definitive on all the above which have plagued my s/h (125 k) A6 1.8T Avant (petrol) since I bought it a year ago. So I finally bit the bullet, took out its Air Mass Sensor (often referred to as the MAF) and cleaned it.

What a transformation :biglaugh: , it finally feels like the car I always thought it should have been !

Want to know how ? reply to this thread, it took me about an hour.

Cheers ! :beerchug:

Hi any chance of mailing me the instructions so i can have a go

[farrerj]

hi guys, I'm a newby as well, I've just cleaned my throttle body after reading about the bad idle issues, and it substantially improved the car.

* Can anyone tell me where the Air Mass Sensor is?? I think I'd like to have a go at that next!

Plus, I'l like to spray carb cleaner down the air inlet under the air filter to attempt to clear the turbo jets, but the air filters not jumping out at me :Blush2:.
I mean will it benefit, I only got this idea from reading the back of the carb cleaner can?
* Where is the air filter??

By the way, what sort of MPG are you guys getting on the 1.8t??

[webchem]

Okay so how do I clean the throttle body on a 2.7T?

[Padwick]

Will an electrical cleaning solvent work cleaning the MAF? I presumed you cleaned out the inside of the pipe part, but it looks like I'm wrong now. Is the metal strip behind the electrical plug?
Cheers.

Edit: Just priced one at £55 with Audi and £30 from EBay.

[pugville]

Please forward on details of cleaning MAF. A6 2.5 tdi

[dongx2]

How did you do it? (clean the MAF):1zhelp:


Hello everyone I'm a Forum newb!


Do any of these sound familiar:
Unstable idle
Hesitation between gear changes
Flat spots
Engine speeds up when you lift off - yes really !
Throttle 'hangs' between changes
Missfire above 4000Well. I've scoured the forums for something definitive on all the above which have plagued my s/h (125 k) A6 1.8T Avant (petrol) since I bought it a year ago. So I finally bit the bullet, took out its Air Mass Sensor (often referred to as the MAF) and cleaned it.

What a transformation :biglaugh: , it finally feels like the car I always thought it should have been !

Want to know how ? reply to this thread, it took me about an hour.

Cheers ! :beerchug:

[mark2004uk]

Can someone please show me were my MAF is :1zhelp:

I have an Audi A6 1995 ABK engine here are 2 photos of the engine can someone please have a look and draw an arrow to it PLEEASSEEE :(

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/mark2004uk/12042008048.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/mark2004uk/12042008047.jpg

[Niall76]

Try this.

http://images.fotopic.net/ytknl0.jpg

[vegvan]

hi, i think i have just broken my MAF! took it out to clean it and snapped off one of the little fragile fingers that are exposed! of the three exposed i snapped the thin one, will this make any difference?
if so i ll have to buy a new one, als came across another sensor on the air filter houseing, it looks like a heat sink and sit s on the top next to the MAF. What is this and what does it do?
1998 Audi A6 1.8t

thanks rob

[vegvan]

forogt to add what is the part number for this MAF as when i looked up then on the internet my number dident match any that i saw.

[Ash Sharma]

Yes please, I'd like to know how you went about to clean the air mass sensor. My car's exhibiting similar lumpy hesitant drive.

Best Regards,

Ash

[mark2004uk]

My car has an ABK engine, the Audi tech told me that the one on my car cant be cleaned only replaced which is £170+ VAT !!!!

I do have a MAF that caome out of a 1995 Audi A6 up for grabs for £50 part is : Bosch 0 281 002 139 . Im not sure wot the engine was, its real nice and clean and works, bought as seen

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/mark2004uk/ad8f_1.jpg[/IMG]

[vegvan]

will take some photos tommorrow and post them to you, will send you a pm

[dpnewbold]

The whole of the UK is now a third world country...been to Germany lately ?? or Denmark for that matter. My wife is Danish and we are regularly over there and Germany too.....much better places to live.
Seriously considering a move back to Denmark, such is the state of old Blighty these days.

[bubbster]

Hi, any help on how to clean the MAF in a '99 2.8 v6 auto SE appreciated?

Cheers

[Crasher]

Don’t clean, replace.

[paul b]

With a genuine unit from VAG, not a Bosch one from GSF or similar.

[Crasher]

With a genuine unit from VAG, not a Bosch one from GSF or similar.

Absolutely, could not have put it better myself.

[markgrff17]

hi

just wondering if you had a detailed method of cleaning the maf sensor

cheers .......... mark

[james946]

I have an S reg a3 1.8 T and when the engine temp is below 90 the car runs fine but as soon as it reaches 90 the problem occurs. no matter what gear you are in it has no power and splutters through the gear, then when you come to a stop the idle drops to 500rpm and the engine cuts out.. can anyone help?? would this relate to the air mass sensor?

[Crasher]

Quite possibly but you should have a fault cod read carried out first as there are other possible reasons.

[james946]

i know this is going to sound like a stupid question, but where abouts would i be able to get that done? is this expensive?

[Crasher]

Not stupid at all, a relevant question. Any decent well equipped garage should be able to carry out an engine fault code scan for you and this should cost around £30. Make sure you get a printed out code report and that the stored codes are cleared.

[JezzaL]

Hello everyone I'm a Forum newb!


Do any of these sound familiar:

Unstable idle
Hesitation between gear changes
Flat spots
Engine speeds up when you lift off - yes really !
Throttle 'hangs' between changes
Missfire above 4000
Well. I've scoured the forums for something definitive on all the above which have plagued my s/h (125 k) A6 1.8T Avant (petrol) since I bought it a year ago. So I finally bit the bullet, took out its Air Mass Sensor (often referred to as the MAF) and cleaned it.

What a transformation :biglaugh: , it finally feels like the car I always thought it should have been !

Want to know how ? reply to this thread, it took me about an hour.

Cheers ! :beerchug:


Please share what you did with me. I have the same problem. Managed to take out the sensor part, but can see no residue or anything. thanks.

[P4ulyt]

hi Steve

i've got what appears to be a similar problem, first started after a monsoon drive back from wales and then intermittently since then. thought it might be one of the coils as i've replaced 2 in the laet 18mths but it does get better occasionally. where is it and do you think it sounds like the air mass sensor? if so how do i clean it or exchange it myself? too busy for garage trips at the moment.

thanks Paul

[Crasher]

Water ingress into the AMM can be a problem on the Passat and A4 but not on one as late as your 2004 so I would suggest an Audi dealer supplied exchange AMM as a starting point.

[P4ulyt]

hi, just drove it again, emissions light flashing at me, drove straight to audi dealer as it now feels like a coil (happened before and it is burned in my memory) bought a new coil, fitted it and is running well now. maybe the coil was grumbling for a while. all i've got to do now is to get rid of the warning light which as i was driving back is now on permanently. do you think this will go out by itself if i do a longish drive? does it reset itself once all is well? car appears to be cured (fingers crossed) as i need it this weekend.

thanks Paul

[Crasher]

I think it may go out one day but it could be weeks.

[henlowstu]

Getting the usual reving and loss of power problems. Points to MAF but unsure where it is. The only sensor i can see in line with the airflow is caked in oil! Have taken pics of suspected location and of the mucky sensor so any advice/confirmation plus what to clean with would be very helpful.6365

6366

[Crasher]

That is the MAP/IAT (VW call it a “Thrust sensor”) sensor which sends the ECU the boost pressure and the charge air temperature. These do stick but cleaning them is pointless. The Air Mass Meter (what people call the MAF) is on the air filter housing.

[henlowstu]

Thanks for that. Never really had much need to look under the bonnet as its been so reliable. Not much room in there!! Take it air filter housing on the left had side behind heat shield. Have tried to email the chap that did the initial thread but no response yet!

[beefeater]

Hello everyone I'm a Forum newb!

Do any of these sound familiar:

Unstable idle
Hesitation between gear changes
Flat spots
Engine speeds up when you lift off - yes really !
Throttle 'hangs' between changes
Missfire above 4000Well. I've scoured the forums for something definitive on all the above which have plagued my s/h (125 k) A6 1.8T Avant (petrol) since I bought it a year ago. So I finally bit the bullet, took out its Air Mass Sensor (often referred to as the MAF) and cleaned it.

What a transformation :biglaugh: , it finally feels like the car I always thought it should have been !

Want to know how ? reply to this thread, it took me about an hour.

Cheers ! :beerchug:
I would love to know how to change/clean the MAF on my 2.6 a4. Any help much appreciated.

Best wishes.

[Crasher]

Year and engine code?

[mister99]

Hello everyone I'm a Forum newb!


Do any of these sound familiar:

Unstable idle
Hesitation between gear changes
Flat spots
Engine speeds up when you lift off - yes really !
Throttle 'hangs' between changes
Missfire above 4000
Well. I've scoured the forums for something definitive on all the above which have plagued my s/h (125 k) A6 1.8T Avant (petrol) since I bought it a year ago. So I finally bit the bullet, took out its Air Mass Sensor (often referred to as the MAF) and cleaned it.

What a transformation :biglaugh: , it finally feels like the car I always thought it should have been !

Want to know how ? reply to this thread, it took me about an hour.

Cheers ! :beerchug:

would you kindly tell me how to clean the MAF sensor on my 2003 Audi A4 1.9tdi 130(b6)

thanks

[steve982]

I have exactly the same problem on my 1995 2.6 quattro........please help!!!

[Crasher]

A4 or A6? Which engine code?

[steve982]

A4, 1995 2.6 quattro. ABC eng code

[Crasher]

You can’t clean the Air Mass Meter on an ABC engine, they do not have one.

[a8 tech]

You can’t clean the Air Mass Meter on an ABC engine, they do not have one.
:biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh: :biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh:

[steve982]

Mmmmmm!.....Maybe why I can't clean it then!!!!

[superhoops]

i getting exactly these symptoms where is the MAF or AIR MASS sensor and how do you change it cheers Jon

[superhoops]

Does my car Audi A6 1995 2.6 have a MAf sensor or air mass sensor?:confused:

[ate75]

Hello everyone I'm a Forum newb!

Do any of these sound familiar:

Unstable idle
Hesitation between gear changes
Flat spots
Engine speeds up when you lift off - yes really !
Throttle 'hangs' between changes
Missfire above 4000Well. I've scoured the forums for something definitive on all the above which have plagued my s/h (125 k) A6 1.8T Avant (petrol) since I bought it a year ago. So I finally bit the bullet, took out its Air Mass Sensor (often referred to as the MAF) and cleaned it.

What a transformation :biglaugh: , it finally feels like the car I always thought it should have been !

Want to know how ? reply to this thread, it took me about an hour.

Cheers ! :beerchug:
Hi Killerwhat?

I should be grateful to receive details on how to clean the MAF sensor.

Thanks in advance,
ate75

[ladyinred]

Hi There

Please tell me how to clean my MAF..I have a '95 A6 Avant 2.6 petrol...

[anduerd]

Hello everyone I'm a Forum newb!


Do any of these sound familiar:

Unstable idle
Hesitation between gear changes
Flat spots
Engine speeds up when you lift off - yes really !
Throttle 'hangs' between changes
Missfire above 4000
Well. I've scoured the forums for something definitive on all the above which have plagued my s/h (125 k) A6 1.8T Avant (petrol) since I bought it a year ago. So I finally bit the bullet, took out its Air Mass Sensor (often referred to as the MAF) and cleaned it.

What a transformation :biglaugh: , it finally feels like the car I always thought it should have been !

Want to know how ? reply to this thread, it took me about an hour.

Cheers ! :beerchug:
how do you clean the MAf?

[Crasher]

how do you clean the MAf?


Buy a genuine dealer exchange unit.

[banker]

Hi. my A6 running rough as chuff. Diagnostics not showing any faults. Worth cleaning the air mass sensor- probably needs doing after 137k! How do we do this then? My engine is the 2.0i ABK. Kind regards, Mr Banker.

[Crasher]

The ABK does not have an Air Mass Meter (MAF); it has an Air Flow Meter, which uses a mechanical moving flap design rather than a hot wire or hot film system as in an AMM. The AFM design is prone to problems with the carbon track, which the wiper runs across, but I do not recommend you try cleaning it unless you know what you are doing.

[banker]

Thanks Crasher. Is it a case of sourcing a re-con unit then? Cheers, banker.

[Crasher]

Yes, or a new Audi part.

[Frak]

Hi folks,

Another post to the MAF thread I'm afraid...

I have a P/1997 A6 1.8SE with ADR engine, which 2 days ago developed intermittent power loss and hesitation, particularly above 2500rpm. Was fine from start this morning for 10 mins then suddenly started hesitating whilst driving, also the instantaneous mpg display on the dash got much much worse (ie. thirstier) when the hesitation started. Idle is very rough and often stalls, which is then hard to restart (takes 10-15 secs or so)

Have already tried checking plugs and HT leads (plugs were changed 6 months ago along with air filter and oil change so still fairly new). Given the poor instantaneous mpg, I'm wondering if it could be the MAF sensor? I'm not sure if this is serviceable on an ADR other than by replacing it, can anyone enlighten me?

Given the list of symptoms, any other suggestions of what the problem might be other than MAF? I've wondered about the Lambda going dicky or whether the throttle body needs a good clean?

Thanks in advance for any replies! :Blush:

-Frak

[Crasher]

You should start with a fault code read.

[Frak]

Hi Crasher,

Thanks for taking the trouble to reply.

I did a search, and I couldn't find anyone with VAG-Com near where I am (Oxfordshire) -- any idea how much a friendly local would charge to read and reset the codes on my car?

Thanks

[Crasher]

Anywhere from £25 to £80. I charge £30 which is about typical.

[Frak]

Thanks, that's good to know.

Any idea where the diag port will be on my A6 (never tried looking for it before). I believe sometimes it's under the lower dash on the drivers' side, but I've also heard it's sometimes under the bonnet as well? (Haynes manual just says to take it to an Audi service centre!)

Thanks

-F

[stevie-g-2.6]

Hi Crasher,

Thanks for taking the trouble to reply.

I did a search, and I couldn't find anyone with VAG-Com near where I am (Oxfordshire) -- any idea how much a friendly local would charge to read and reset the codes on my car?

Thanks


you could try this place near buckingham. http://www.autowerkstatt.co.uk/index.php

[ladyinred]

A6 2.6e 1994 v6 avant c4 abc engine - how to clean my maf.

[Crasher]

95 model year, anyway, it does not have one…

[ladyinred]

Hi There

A4 1.8T 2002 Model...How do I clean Air Mass Sensor