Tech & Auto
Why (And How) You Should Be Cleaning Your Car’s Mass Air Flow Sensor
By PATRICK PHILLIPS
Your car’s Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor monitors how much air is entering the engine, helping regulate your car's air-to-fuel ratio, and the engine’s heat.
Keeping the MAF sensor clean can prevent certain issues related to fuel injection and ignition. Luckily, you can clean the MAF sensor yourself.
Before you start, ensure you have a screwdriver or socket wrench, a clean shop towel, and a can of MAF sensor cleaner, and make sure your engine is off and cool to the touch.
Locate the plugged-in MAF sensor under your vehicle's hood. It should be near the air filter between the air box and the throttle box and may be covered by an assembly.
Next, unplug the wire harness connecting the sensor to the electrical system and use a screwdriver to remove the sensor and its housing.
Place the sensor and housing on your towel and spray them directly with MAF sensor cleaner as directed. Don’t wipe or scrub the sensor, and let it air-dry.
Once the sensor is completely dry, screw it back into place and re-connect the electrical wire harness. Make sure to consult your car’s user manual before beginning.