To ensure an optimal fuel combustion process and compliance with specified environmental standards, it is necessary to determine as accurately as possible the mass flow of air supplied to the engine cylinders, depending on its operating modes. This process can be controlled by a whole set of sensors: an air pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, but the most popular of them is the mass air flow sensor (MAF), which is sometimes also called a flow meter. The mass air flow sensor records the amount (mass) of air entering the engine intake manifold from the atmosphere and transmits this data to the electronic control unit for subsequent calculation of fuel supply.
Explanation of the abbreviation MAF - mass air flow sensor. The device is used in cars with gasoline and diesel engines. It is located in the intake system between the air filter and the throttle valve and connects to the engine ECU. If the flow meter is missing or faulty, the amount of incoming air is calculated based on the throttle valve position. This does not provide an accurate measurement, and in difficult operating conditions, fuel consumption increases, since air mass flow is a key parameter for calculating the amount of fuel injected.
The principle of operation of the mass air flow sensor is based on measuring the temperature of the air flow, and therefore this type of flow meters is called hot-wire anemometers. Structurally, there are two main types of air flow sensors:
The filament air flow sensor has the following device:
The platinum filament and thermistor form a resistive bridge. In the absence of air flow, the platinum filament is constantly heated to a predetermined temperature by passing an electric current through it. When the throttle valve opens and air begins to flow, the sensing element cools, which reduces its resistance. This provokes an increase in the “heating” current to balance the bridge.
The converter transforms the current changes into an output voltage, which is transmitted to the engine ECU. The latter, based on the existing nonlinear relationship, calculates the amount of fuel supplied to the combustion chambers.
This design has one significant drawback - malfunctions occur over time. The sensing element wears out and its accuracy decreases. They can also become dirty, but to solve this problem, wire mass air flow sensors installed in modern cars have a self-cleaning mode. It involves short-term heating of the wire to 1000°C with the engine turned off, which leads to the burning of accumulated contaminants.
Film mass air flow sensor device The principle of operation of a film sensor is in many ways similar to a filament sensor. However, there are several differences in this design. Instead of a platinum wire, a silicon crystal is installed as the main sensitive element. The latter has a platinum coating, consisting of several very thin layers (films). Each layer is a separate resistor:
The coated crystal is placed in a housing, which is connected to the air supply channel. It has a special design that allows you to measure the temperature of not only the incoming flow, but also the reflected flow. Since air suction is achieved through vacuum, the flow speed is very high, which prevents the accumulation of contaminants on the sensing element.
Just like in a filament sensor, the sensitive element is heated to a predetermined temperature. When air passes through thermistors, a temperature difference occurs, on the basis of which the mass of the flow coming from the atmosphere is calculated. In such designs, the signal to the engine ECU can be supplied both in an analog format (output voltage) and in a more modern and convenient for processing - digital.
As with any type of engine sensor, a malfunction of the mass air flow sensor means incorrect calculations by the engine ECU and, as a result, incorrect operation of the injection system. This can cause excessive fuel consumption or, conversely, insufficient supply, which reduces engine power.
The most striking symptoms of a sensor malfunction:
If you notice signs of a malfunctioning mass air flow sensor, try disabling it. An increase in engine power will confirm a breakdown of the mass air flow sensor. In this case, it will need to be washed or replaced. In this case, it is necessary to select a sensor recommended by the car manufacturer (that is, the original one).
“Mass air flow sensor (MAF) - what is it and what is it for?” - a question that interests many novice car enthusiasts. The short answer is this: the mass flow sensor is an important element of the control system of an internal combustion engine with a microprocessor ignition system (ECU). Its task is to measure the amount of air entering the engine cylinders. Based on the MAF readings, the engine controller calculates the amount of fuel that the injector should supply. The usual location of the flow meter is after the air purification filter and before the throttle valve.
If you try to set fire to something in a chamber where there is completely no oxygen, then nothing will come of this idea. To maintain the combustion process, an oxidizing agent is needed, in our case O2. In an internal combustion engine, atmospheric air, which contains oxygen, is used as an oxidizer. It is not enough to simply burn the fuel - it is necessary that it burns without leaving any residue. The correct proportion of the fuel-air mixture is the key to maximum engine performance. The amount of air and fuel required for gasoline engines is determined to be 14.7 to 1 (by weight). A fuel-air mixture of this composition is called stoichiometric.
In modern engines, fuel dosage control is entrusted to a computer. To accurately determine the amount of fuel that an injector needs to inject, it needs data on the amount of air entering the engine intake manifold. DMRV is responsible for receiving this data.
The operation of the sensor is based on measuring the electrical power that is necessary to maintain the temperature of the heating element located in the housing. The incoming air cools the element in the sensor, and the internal combustion engine controller strives to maintain the temperature by supplying electric current. The more air the sensor passes through, the more power is required to maintain its temperature. The power is converted into a signal that is received by the control unit controller. Based on the received signal, the ECU calculates the amount of fuel that the injector should supply to the intake tract. The amount of air passing depends on the angle at which the throttle valve is open.
The mass air flow sensor consists of two parts - the housing and the measuring element. The mass air flow sensor housing has a round cross-section and has rubber sealing rings at the ends. They are needed to prevent air from leaking around the air filter.
The measuring element can be of two types:
In both the case of wire and film, the material is platinum. This explains the rather high cost of the mass air flow sensor.
An electrical circuit is mounted in the measuring element, which generates and sends a pulse-frequency signal to the motor controller.
The service life of the flow meter is not regulated by the manufacturer and depends on the following factors:
Malfunctions in the MAF electrical circuit are detected by the controller and recorded in the ECU memory in the form of error codes. They can be considered a tester for engine diagnostics.
Signs that the sensor is faulty may include:
When an error occurs in the operation of the mass air flow sensor, the engine control unit goes into emergency operation mode. In this case, the controller uses data from the throttle position sensor (TPS) and the crankshaft position sensor to calculate the air volume. It is not possible to accurately calculate the volume from the readings of these sensors, so fuel consumption increases sharply. 
The sensor is very sensitive to deposits on the heating element. If they were the cause of the incorrect signal, you can try to wash them. To clean the thermoelement, use ethyl alcohol. But flushing in most cases does not have a long-term effect. After some time, it will still need to be replaced with a new one. In order for the sensor to serve for a long time, it is necessary to carefully monitor the condition of the air purification filter and change it on time.
It happens that the incorrect operation of the motor is caused by air that is sucked in through the seal after the flow meter. Then to restore normal operation it is enough to restore its tightness.
In most cases, when a malfunction of the mass air flow sensor is detected, only replacing it with a new one will help. In this case, it is necessary to purchase the part exactly as was installed previously. Sensors for different engine control systems are not interchangeable with each other. Even outwardly indistinguishable flow meters from the same manufacturer, designed to work with different engine ECUs, produce different output signals. When purchasing a new sensor, you must ensure that the number of the new sensor matches the number of the old one.
The load on the engine, the condition of the road surface, and vehicle load are some of the few factors that determine the operating modes of an internal combustion engine. The very first and strict rule that determines the optimal conditions for engine operation is the correct correspondence of the amount of air to fuel, the standard of which is 14.7 kg of air per 1 liter of gasoline.
The main task of the sensor is to measure the ideal amount of incoming air so that the engine efficiency is as high as possible.
Mass air flow sensor is a hot-wire type sensor that reads information about the amount of air that enters the intake manifold, which allows the electronic engine management system to calculate the correct fuel-air mixture ratio. This sensor is installed between the air filter housing and the intake manifold, and a corrugation connects them.
DMVR - hot-wire sensor
Before servicing or repairing, it is necessary to understand the design of this sensor.
The air flow sensor consists of 6 parts:
The main part of the mass air flow sensor is a nickel network or wire (sensitive element), to which a current is supplied that heats the filament. The average temperature of the threads is 75-100 degrees or higher than the temperature of the air passing by the sensor.
Immediately before checking the malfunction, you should understand the symptoms. 5 of these have been identified:
The question arises: is it possible to drive when a malfunction of the mass air flow sensor is detected?
When the sensor is disconnected from the power supply, the engine begins to operate in emergency mode. The fuel to air ratio now depends on the throttle opening angle, which increases gas mileage. The minimum crankshaft speed starts at 1500 rpm.
There are 5 ways to check the operation of the sensor.
Method No. 1: disconnect power from the mass air flow sensor
It is necessary to remove the connector from the sensor and start the engine. In this case, the “Check Engine” should light up, the minimum speed will increase to 1500 rpm. If you feel the speed of a car without a sensor, then this is a direct sign of a non-functioning air flow sensor.
Method No. 2: Reflashing the control unit.
In case the firmware of the “brains” was previously carried out, then it is impossible to know how the engine is programmed for an emergency in the first method. It is necessary to take a plate 1 mm thick and place it under the damper stop. The engine speed should increase. Then you need to remove the connector from the sensor. If the engine does not stall, it means that the problem lies in the firmware of the control unit, namely with the idle speed controller without a mass air flow sensor in emergency mode.
Method No. 3: Checking the sensor using a multimeter
This method does not work on all mass air flow sensors. You need to set the tester to measure direct current and set a maximum of 2 V.
There are 4 wires that connect to the sensor, each with its own color, starting from the one closest to the windshield:
The colors on the mass flow sensor may be different, but the pin locations are the same in all of them.
Next, turn on the ignition, but do not start the engine. Touch the red probe to the first wire (yellow), the black probe to ground (green wire). This method shows the voltage between two wires.
The new sensor voltage should be between 0.99 and 1.01. If the voltage begins to increase over time, this means that the sensor is rapidly wearing out.
Voltage indicators:
— 1,01 – 1,02 V– The air flow sensor is in excellent condition;
— 1,02- 1,03 V- satisfactory condition;
— 1,03 – 1,04 V– the resource of the part is almost exhausted;
— 1,04 – 1,05 Vand higher - the mass air flow sensor needs to be replaced.
Method number 4: inspection of the sensor
It is necessary to remove the mass air flow sensor from the seat by disconnecting it from the air filter housing and bellows. The inner surface of the sensor must be dry, without traces of condensation and oil. Frequent sensor failure occurs because the air filter is rarely changed, dirt gets on the sensitive element, and it gives erroneous readings. The presence of oil in the sensor indicates an increased oil level in the engine or clogging of the crankcase ventilation.
Next, you need to make sure that the sealing ring on the seat where the corrugation fits is not stuck on the air filter housing. If this happens, then air leaks from the seat, which pulls dust with it, which causes rapid wear of the sensor.
Method No. 5: installation of a similar sensor.
If it is possible to take the same mass air flow sensor, then using an example of its operation you can draw conclusions about the performance of your sensor.
The peculiarity of the air flow sensor is that it is maintenance-free and cannot be repaired. It is only allowed to be cleaned. It is strictly forbidden to blow the sensor with compressed air, clean it with ether, acetone, swabs and cotton swabs, as these operations can damage the sensitive element. There are special “Flow meter cleaner” flushes that extend the service life of the part, provided that its voltage does not exceed 1.13V.
Flow meters are manufactured specifically for each engine, as a result of which they also have different output voltages. If a foreign sensor is installed, the engine control unit will not be able to properly process the sent signals, which will affect the stability of the engine.
If there is no other way out, then the ECU can be flashed for someone else’s flow meter, provided that this operation is carried out by a specialist.
The mass air flow sensor is an integral part of the intake and fuel system that tells you how much fuel to deliver at a given moment. Its malfunction can have a detrimental effect on the operation of the motor. In order to maximize the life of the sensor, it is necessary first of all to monitor the parts that are directly related to it (the condition of the air filter, the oil level and the condition of crankcase gas suction clogging). The average service life of a mass air flow sensor with proper care can be over 50,000 km or two years.
With the advent of electronic processor devices and injection systems for forming an air-fuel mixture into the internal combustion engine control system, it was necessary to use special sensors that determine the parameters of the mass flow in the intake manifold. The first was the mass air flow sensor.
The controller that controls the amount of fuel injected by the injector must receive information about the mass flow moving through the intake manifold. For this purpose, the readings of the mass air flow sensor are used - a device for fixing the mass air flow. The more accurate the information, the better the mixture.
The reason to get acquainted with the “hardware” of the mass air flow sensor and its location in the engine appears at the first symptoms of a malfunction of the mass air flow sensor. The reasons may be:
Considering the fact that AvtoVAZ generously stuck mass air flow sensors on all more or less hard-working cars, from the tenth to the fourteenth model, it is worth knowing how this miracle works and works.
The principle of operation of the mass air flow sensor uses a change in the temperature of a 0.07 mm metal layer welded onto the ceramic layer of the sensor, or a thin platinum wire under the influence of an air flow. The mass air flow sensor is installed on a special holder and placed in the central part of the air manifold section in front of the throttle valve to reduce the influence of local turbulence.
In addition to the platinum layer, two thermistors are glued to the surface of the silicon element to record the temperatures of the air and the sensitive element. A small electrical circuit controls the measurement process, and under certain conditions it also starts a self-cleaning mode of the sensor from varnish and oil films of dirt. At the same time, on the surface of platinum the temperature soars to 1000 o C, and oxygen in the air converts organic substances into combustion products.
Important! A particular danger to the flow sensor is mineral dust from refractory metal oxides. Often, in the cleaning mode, they “tightly” stick to the platinum film, thereby creating a thermal insulation layer that distorts air flow data. It is unrealistic to remove such plaque using simple solvents.
It is clear that signs of a malfunction are conditional, problems may not be limited to the performance of the mass flow measurement device, so before deciding on further procedures it is worth conducting a couple of additional tests to diagnose the mass air flow sensor.
To do this you can do:
Advice! You can also check the condition of the mass flow measurement sensor by visual inspection, but this will require experience working with similar sensors, which is mostly available to experienced craftsmen. A coating of dust is not good, but it does not always mean a death sentence.
If you are not the proud owner of an ECU controller Ya7.2.M7.9.7., simply disconnect the connector block on the air flow sensor. With another type of engine, fault testing will not work. What happens if you disconnect the mass air flow sensor (MAF)? The engine will start and run. In this case, the logic of the controller, which has detected a complete malfunction of the air flow sensor due to a removed contact, will switch it to emergency mode based on information about air flow and will use its average values and information about the throttle position.
In practice, this will mean increasing the idle speed to 1400 rpm, depending on the deadness of the throttle position sensor. Most importantly, in the sensations during control acceleration, you will feel that the agility and throttle response of the car has noticeably increased. Conclusion: most likely the mass air flow sensor is bad, but the question is - how bad? The main idea of the check is not to rush to buy and replace an expensive mass air flow sensor, but to try to find a compromise. It is possible that by washing or other manipulations the operation of the mass air flow sensor can be restored.
If your car has a Bosch version of the flow sensor with catalog designations 0280218004, -037, -116, it is easier and more reliable to directly measure the potential generated by the mass air flow sensor DMRV. We measure using any device that allows you to work with a range of 0-2 V and an accuracy of at least a hundredth of a volt. Try to use a proven device for measurements, without additional extension cords, wires and needles.
Finding the mass air flow sensor housing in the air manifold is quite simple. A wire harness of different colors fits into the connector chip, tightly closed with a rubber cap. The MAF pinouts include the following:
To measure the potential, we use the first and third wires of the harness. There are several options for connecting the probes of a measuring device, but you should definitely not use paper clips or thin sharp wires. They can significantly affect the accuracy of the measurement. You can finely sharpen the copper tips of the probes and pierce the insulation of the wires with them, as close to the contacts as possible.
The measurement is performed with the ignition switch on but the engine turned off. If the connection is made correctly, the device will show a value from 0.996 - for a new sensor, to 1.05 - for one that is practically “dead” and requires replacement.
To remove the sensor, you need to unscrew its mount on the air duct, loosen the clamp and disconnect the corrugated piece of pipe. The sensor itself is fastened with a pair of screws that can be unscrewed with a ten key, after removing the chip with wires, you can carefully remove the housing from the socket. Inspecting the surface, you can see traces of dust and oil. The presence of stains and dirt suggests that the self-cleaning mode will no longer help it. But we need to find the cause of the pollution.
Pay attention to the rubber ring sealing the connector. It performs the function of blocking possible suction from the engine compartment into the sensor cavity of dirty air clogged with fumes. In the normal position of the suction ring, most likely there was no suction.
Most often, dirt settles on the surface of the sensor due to poor condition of the air filter. Sometimes, on the recommendation of numerous experts, car enthusiasts treat the filter cartridge with a special oil aerosol. Typically, this preparation is used on full-flow air filters of zero resistance. But the effect is achieved for a new filter within the same 5-10 thousand km. The aerosol will not provide special protection for the mass air flow sensor from microdust particles.
In the video - a little more about the mass fuel flow sensor:
The air mass meter in a car, like all components in it, is subject to defects. This electronic component in the car is also called the Mass Air Flow Sensor (MAF). Unfortunately, despite modern technology, this sensor can fail quite quickly, causing a lot of damage. Today we propose to learn about the air flow meter in your car, as well as about the various signs of a malfunction of the mass air flow sensor, the reasons for its failure and the cost of repairs.
Why is this sensor called air flow meter or mass air flow sensor?
The fact is that this important sensor is installed, as a rule, in the engine intake system and is located between the housing and the throttle valve. Moreover, both gasoline and diesel cars are equipped with this sensor.
Using an air flow meter, the electronic engine control unit determines the intake mass. Based on data from the sensor, the electronics regulates the amount of oxygen that must be mixed with the incoming oxygen. This allows you to create an optimal fuel mixture in the engine combustion chamber for ideal combustion.
Unfortunately, the mass air flow sensor often causes errors in the car's electronics, which ultimately affects engine performance. For example, if the air flow meter in a car is faulty, the car's engine stops operating at its optimal level. As a result, in most cases the engine starts to operate in emergency mode, and a warning message appears on the dashboard.
The main disadvantage of the mass air flow sensor is its cost. For example, a new air flow meter can cost 3,000 rubles or even 30,000 rubles. Everything, of course, depends on your make and model of car and what kind of sensor you want to buy - original / non-original.
But most often the cost of a mass air flow sensor on average varies from 3,750 to 12,000 rubles.
Unfortunately, since the air flow meter is an extremely sensitive component, it can often fail quickly if installed incorrectly. This is why we do not recommend replacing the sensor yourself.
By the way, replacing a flow meter on average takes from 15 to 60 minutes.
So how does the mass air flow sensor work, what are the most common signs of its malfunction and what to do if it breaks?
The air mass meter (MAF) is a relatively small component that is of great importance in the proper operation of the engine management system.
Almost all modern ones currently use an air flow meter to calculate optimal fuel injection into the combustion chamber. The flow meter is located in the intake manifold between the throttle body and the air filter.
In addition to calculating the air mass, the sensor determines the temperature and pressure of the intake oxygen. Based on the obtained values, the engine control unit calculates the amount of fuel required to be supplied to the engine and the ignition time. In diesel vehicles, the air mass meter also affects the operation of the exhaust gas recirculation system.
Until the 1980s, cars used a mechanical air flow sensor. But today, a mechanical sensor is no longer able to cope with the modern requirements of modern gasoline and diesel engines.
Conventional modern car air flow meters are equipped with two platinum resistors (metal heating filaments). The first resistor is shielded from passing air, the second is located directly in the air flow. The DMPV is connected to the vehicle's electrical circuit. Electricity heats up both resistors in the sensor.
But the temperature of the two resistors is naturally different, since the unshielded resistor is constantly cooled by the passing air flow. The shielded resistor heats up faster and more. As a result, the electronic engine control unit receives information about two different values. Based on the difference in values, the engine control unit determines the mass.
In order to prevent rapid contamination of the mass air flow sensor, a forced cleaning system is provided. For example, after the engine is turned off, the sensor heats up. Thanks to this, the sensor is cleaned of contaminants.
Also, quite recently a new type of mass air flow sensors has appeared. This new generation of air flow meters uses heating film instead of wire. This is a thin film with a thin ceramic layer.
The new type of sensors is also connected to the vehicle's electrical network. Electricity keeps the sensor at a certain heating temperature. When the air cools the sensor, it has to be heated again to the set temperature due to the current. Accordingly, the more air flows through the sensor, the more it cools.
Accordingly, the more time is needed to restore the specified heating temperature of the DMPV.
It is by the required heating volume that the electronic engine control unit determines how much air passes through the sensor and, accordingly, what amount of fuel is optimal to supply to the combustion chamber.
The advantage of this type of sensors is that they do not require a cleaning system using high temperature heating.
The MAF sensor is not only important to your vehicle's performance, but it is also essential for regulating the minimum level of pollutants in your vehicle's exhaust system. If the air flow meter is faulty or dirty, it will not give correct readings to the engine control unit. The result: the optimal amount of fuel will not be supplied to the combustion chamber.
As a result, the fuel injection system may deliver either too little or too much fuel to the engine's combustion chamber or intake port.
Typically, when a mass air flow sensor malfunctions, the symptoms range from loss of power, loss of smoothness and instability of engine speed at idle, to misfires in the ignition system and improper exhaust. Sometimes, due to a breakdown of the mass air flow sensor, black smoke may come out of the exhaust pipe.
However, we draw your attention to the fact that similar signs may appear with other vehicle malfunctions. For example, similar symptoms of a breakdown may occur due to a malfunction of the turbocharger or due to a malfunction of the ignition system. Therefore, these signs of malfunction cannot be 100% indicators of failure of the air flow sensor.
Under certain circumstances, if the mass air flow sensor begins to malfunction, the vehicle's engine will usually go into limp mode (emergency program). In this case, as a rule, on the dashboard of the car.
This program is necessary to protect the engine from damage and keep the exhaust as clean as possible. Naturally, this results in a decrease in engine power. So that the owner of the car knows that the engine has entered the emergency program and an icon has been created on the dashboard " Engine check".
Also, in the electronic system of the car, it is recorded in memory, with the help of which, during diagnostics, you can find out the reason for turning on the emergency program of the power unit.
Since a malfunction of the mass air flow sensor leads to emergency operation of the engine, as well as to the appearance of a malfunction error in the car’s computer memory, the most reliable way to find out the reason for the appearance of the “Check Engine” icon on the dashboard is through electronic vehicle diagnostics. During this diagnostic, a specialist connects equipment through a special connector to read errors that have occurred from the machine system.
However, it happens that there are no active errors in the car's computer memory. What to do in this case, if there are still signs of a malfunction of the mass air flow sensor?
Naturally, in this case, a visual inspection of the air flow meter is necessary. True, in most cases, a visual inspection will not be able to accurately determine whether the sensor is faulty. In this case, car mechanics usually suggest that owners install a working mass air flow sensor for testing and check how the car behaves with the new sensor. Naturally, if after testing it turns out that the signs of malfunction have gone away, then the old sensor definitely did not work correctly.
True, this method is only suitable if the technician is 99% sure that the cause of poor engine performance is a malfunction of the mass air flow sensor. The fact is that a car mechanic does not always have a working mass air flow sensor in stock for your car model.
In this case, you will have to buy a new sensor.
Naturally, if the malfunction was not related to the sensor, you will simply throw away extra money. And quite a lot, since mass air flow sensors are very expensive.
The simplest test to check the performance of the mass air flow sensor is a simple test that anyone can do.
To do this, you need to de-energize the sensor.
If the engine begins to work better after turning off the air flow meter, then most likely the mass air flow sensor is faulty. However, this test, unfortunately, is not suitable for all cars.
The air flow meter is a wear-resistant component in the car. But nothing lasts forever in our world. Naturally, the longer the mileage of the car, the more parts wear out. This also applies to the mass air flow sensor. For example, as the vehicle's mileage increases, the air flow sensor sends more and more incorrect values to the engine control unit.
And sooner or later the mass air flow sensor will fail. Unfortunately, at first you may not notice that the motor is not working properly. But as wear on the sensor increases, you will begin to notice that the car is not behaving correctly. Firstly, the first sign of a malfunction of the mass air flow sensor is.
But the failure of the air flow sensor is not always associated with high mileage of the car. Sometimes the air flow meter can fail very early.
For example, if you often drive fast in heavy rain, water may pass through and hit the mass air flow sensor.
As a result, water can quickly lead to a sensor defect. In addition, the sensor can quickly fail due to a leak in the intake system or due to untimely replacement of the air filter. The fact is that if sand and other dirt from the filter or from the street gets on the sensor, it will not be able to work properly for a long time.
In some cases, if the mass air flow sensor malfunctions, cleaning it can help. For example, if the reason for incorrect measurement of the volume of air entering the engine is due to contamination of the air flow meter. However, care should be taken when cleaning the mass air flow sensor as the sensor parts of the sensor are very sensitive to touch.
To clean the mass air flow sensor, special automotive cleaners are used. However, to clean the sensor you will have to remove it from the car. After cleaning and drying the sensor, it is installed back on the car. In this case also check . If it is dirty, you need to install a new filter.
If the mass air flow sensor in your car has failed, we recommend doing it. Fortunately, the cost of labor to replace the sensor is low, since the air flow sensor is easily accessible in most cars. In most cases, replacing an air mass meter will take approximately 15 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the make and model of the car.
Unfortunately, in many modern cars, a special tool is required to replace the mass air flow sensor. Also, in many modern cars, after replacing the air flow sensor, you may have to “register” the flow meter in the engine control unit, thereby informing the electronics about the new sensor. Unfortunately, therefore, not all car owners who are familiar with auto repair can independently change the mass air flow sensor in their car.
Is it worth buying a non-original mass air flow sensor? Unfortunately, the cost of the mass air flow sensor is not small. Therefore, many drivers are often interested in the question: is it possible to purchase an analogue instead of the original flow meter?
This question cannot be answered unequivocally. It all depends on the make and model of your car and of course the manufacturer of the sensors. For example, there are cars on the market for which you will not find non-original sensors.
If you still decide to purchase a non-original mass flow sensor, then choose only reliable suppliers from well-known manufacturers.
Unfortunately, the cost of mass air flow sensors is quite high (especially in modern new cars). So we advise you not to save money, because if you spend a lot of money on a non-original one, you may encounter a short service life of the sensor, and eventually, sooner or later you will purchase an original flow meter.
Agree, this is unreasonable.
Remember that sometimes savings can backfire. Especially when it comes to electronic automotive components.
We would also like to note that in some cars the mass air flow sensor is built into the engine control unit. In this case, the cost of repairing the sensor can cost a very large amount.
In this case, your only way to save money is to look for a company that repairs such units. Typically, such companies repair such units by changing the mass air flow sensor built into the engine control unit.
Yes, repairs in this case will not be cheap, but nevertheless they are not comparable to the cost of a new engine control unit.
