A lot of things can happen to your car when the mass airflow sensor gets dirty because it will cause the MAF sensor, as it’s also known by, to malfunction. J&M Auto Service can clean or replace the MAF sensor if it needs it. Let’s talk below about the signs that the MAF sensor is dirty.
Acceleration Lag/Engine Trouble
The MAF sensor is responsible for tracking the inflow of air from the outside. It reports the air inflow to the engine control module or ECM. The ECM uses the data provided by the mass airflow sensor to make adjustments in the combustion chamber. If the MAF sensor malfunctions, the ECM may make unnecessary adjustments that will cause your acceleration to lag and your engine to lag or surge.
An Engine That Idles Roughly
Your engine may also idle roughly if the ECM puts too much air into the combustion chamber. This can be caused indirectly by the dirty MAF sensor because it will send the ECM incorrect data about the amount of air flowing into the engine. Unfortunately, an air-rich fuel mixture will make the idle rough.
A Reduction in the Gas Mileage
All of these engine problems can reduce your gas mileage because the engine is not running efficiently. You need an efficient engine to get the most miles per gallon. If you are dealing with a faulty MAF sensor, the ECM will skew the air and fuel mixture in the combustion chamber and this will reduce your vehicle’s fuel economy, especially if the ECM puts too much gas or diesel fuel in the chamber.
Black Engine Exhaust Smoke
If you see black exhaust smoke flowing out of your tailpipe, the ECM has put too much fuel in the combustion chamber. The black exhaust is a result of the engine burning away the excess fuel. It’s not a good idea to drive your automobile if it is releasing excessive amounts of exhaust.
Difficulty Starting the Vehicle
Depending on how off the air and fuel mixture is in the combustion chamber, you may start to have problems starting your automobile until you get the MAF sensor cleaned or replaced. The ECM may starve the engine of fuel and, as such, you won’t be able to get the engine started.
Finally, all of these things can be accompanied by an illuminated check engine light on the dashboard, so call J&M Auto Service in Tea, SD, today to schedule an appointment for an MAF sensor cleaning.