MAF problems, fact or fiction?

[Steveyk]

Has anybody ever had to replace the MAF sensor on the air inlet? I read somewhere that they deteriorate over time due to "particle damage". sounds like something off Star Trek to me.

If the MAF was faulty, what would happen?

[Autotecnica]

on older cars, the 1999-2000 model maf's were awful and would go wrong all the time, the one in the newer cars is more robust but can still fail like everything can. normal symptoms are idling is erratic and stalling when coming to a stop.
Adam

[Steveyk]

Cheers Adam, I only get slightly erratic idling when the aircon is switched on. I guess this is because of the compressor load. I do sometimes get a sort of hesitation or stuttering when the boost comes in in higher gears though, I wondered if this may be the MAF or something else?

[Autotecnica]

the air-con will disturb the revs when it kicks in, as for the hesitation it could be a number of things, has it only started doing it with the hot weather?
Adam

[Steveyk]

Nope, it always does it. It had a Turbosmart boost controller on when I bought it which a local 'specialist' removed. I have wondered whether it was mapped to suit the controller and boost solenoid.

[Autotecnica]

you can always pop over with it so we could sort it i don't mind putting the subaru select monitor on it f.o.c.
adam

[Steveyk]

Cheers Adam that would be ace, what's the Subaru Select monitor?

[Autotecnica]

Cheers Adam that would be ace, what's the Subaru Select monitor?

its the dealer diagnostic equipment, it can see if there is a fault on the car.
adam

[Steveyk]

Sweet! What seems to happen is at high loads, low down the revs just as full boost arrives in 4th and 5th the engine cuts for a second and the CEL light comes on. It only used to happen very occasionally, and it's only happened once since I stopped using tesco fuel about 500 miles ago. After 4-5 restarts the light goes off, but it's starting to bug me. I thought I'd cured it by using only v-power, but it happened for the first time since I switched to v-power the other day, in 5th at max boost during an ambitious overtake. I'd be well chuffed if you could actually pin it down to something!

[asperformance]

could potentially be over-boosting slightly?? what boost control are you now running??

what CEL code does it throw??

[Steveyk]

No external boost control, just whatever the standard ECU does I guess!

I don't know what code it's throwing up, just that the light comes on on goes off if I restart the engine 4-5 times. Seems to run normally with the light on too.

[Autotecnica]

i can check the codes and what its boosting at steve. just give me a call when you want to pop over.
adam

[Steveyk]

Tomorrow morning ok? Got a rare day off!

[Autotecnica]

sorry steve only just seen this, i'm busy today but how you fixed for saturday?

[Steveyk]

Sorry Adam next day off is likely to be 23rd! I'll give you a ring closer to