This article was reviewed by Jason Shackelford and by wikiHow staff writer, Devin McSween. Jason Shackelford is the Owner of Stingray Auto Repair, a family owned and operated auto repair shop with locations in Seattle and Redmond, Washington. He has over 24 years of experience in auto repair and services, and every single technician on Jason’s team has more than 10 years of experience.
There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
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If your car hesitates when you accelerate or your check engine light refuses to turn off, a dirty mass air flow sensor might be the culprit. You might think that a hefty cleaning session is in store, but it’s a super quick and simple job. In this article, we’ll provide all the steps you need to clean this small but mighty car part and keep your engine running smoothly. Read on to get cleaning!
Things You Should Know
- Locate the mass air flow (MAF) sensor under your car’s hood. It’s usually between the air filter box and throttle body on the driver’s side.
- Unplug the connector from the sensor. Then, unscrew it and take it out of your car.
- Spray the wire or plate inside the sensor with 10-15 sprays of MAF cleaner.
- Let the sensor dry for 1 hour before putting it back in your car.
Steps
Expert Q&A
Video
Tips
Warnings
- Do not brush, scrub, or wipe the MAF sensor. This sensor is very delicate, so rubbing it can easily damage its parts.Thanks
- Always wear protective gear like safety glasses and gloves when working on your car.Thanks
- Only use mass airflow (MAF) cleaner to clean your MAF sensor. Other cleaners can leave a harmful residue that damages the sensor.Thanks
References
- ↑ https://youtu.be/gHnUS97PqM0?t=32
- ↑ https://youtu.be/o90KcZRz95U?t=67
- ↑ https://youtu.be/rzrDIRZ-ccs?t=54
- ↑ https://youtu.be/rzrDIRZ-ccs?t=72
- ↑ https://youtu.be/rzrDIRZ-ccs?t=80
- ↑ https://youtu.be/gHnUS97PqM0?t=53
- ↑ https://youtu.be/qPfOyfQOYeo?t=25
- ↑ https://youtu.be/qPfOyfQOYeo?t=37
- ↑ https://www.blueovaltech.com/tech/clean-maf-mass-airflow-sensor.php