If your check engine light is on and/or you notice any of the other problems listed below, it’s possible that your mass airflow (MAF) sensor is dirty and/or malfunctioning. The MAF sensor tracks the air flowing into the engine from the outside. This helps the main computer chip keep the balance of air and fuel in the combustion chamber just right. Eddie’s Auto Repair advises that a faulty MAF sensor can skew the data and, consequently, indirectly skew the air/fuel combo.
Acceleration Lag
When this happens, your car, truck, or utility vehicle may end up with too much air in the combustion chamber. Unfortunately, this excess air starves the engine of fuel and your vehicle’s acceleration will lag when you press down on the accelerator. Your engine may also hiccup and sputter as it tries to pick up speed.
Performance Issues
The engine performance issues aren’t limited to the acceleration. Your engine may also hiccup and sputter once you’ve reached the speed you wish to maintain. If there is too much fuel in the combustion chamber, your engine will pick up speed unexpectedly by itself.
Rough Engine Idle
Going back to a fuel-starved engine, this will also cause your engine to idle roughly when you are sitting at an idle. Unfortunately, a malfunctioning MAF sensor can cause this problem indirectly by, once again, skewing the data it sends to the engine control module, which is your vehicle’s main computer chip.
Poor Fuel Economy
Any time your automobile’s engine has problems running efficiently, it takes its toll on the gas mileage. A dirty MAF sensor can also indirectly affect your vehicle’s fuel economy, and with gas prices what they are today, you need to get as many miles out of a full tank as possible.
Dark Exhaust Smoke
Another sign that your mass airflow sensor is going bad is dark exhaust smoke coming out of the tailpipe while you drive. This is an indication that there is too much fuel in the combustion chamber, and it is being burned away. A faulty MAF sensor can indirectly cause this problem.
Difficult Starts
Finally, as you can see from the previous symptoms, the delicate balance of the air and fuel in the combustion chamber can affect how well your engine runs. Unfortunately, it can also affect your ability to get your vehicle started.
Call Eddie’s Auto Repair in Kingston, TN, today if your vehicle is experiencing any of the problems listed above. We will inspect the MAF sensor and clean or replace it if necessary.
