A malfunctioning mass airflow (MAF) sensor will cause your automobile to fail the smog check. This sensor is responsible for keeping track of the amount of air that flows into the engine. If it sends incorrect data to the engine control module (ECM), your car’s main computer, the ECM will make adjustments that will cause the following problems. Boulevard Auto Repair advises that these are signs that your MAF sensor is bad.
1. Acceleration Troubles
If your vehicle is having problems accelerating, it’s possible that the mass airflow sensor is malfunctioning and the ECM has put too much air into the combustion chamber. This puts your vehicle into a fuel-starved condition, and you will have problems accelerating as a result.
2. Black Engine Exhaust
If the ECM puts too much fuel into the combustion chamber, the engine will burn off the additional fuel. You will see black exhaust coming out of your tailpipe if the engine is burning a ton of fuel. This can be a dangerous situation, so stop driving your automobile.
3. Check Engine Warning
Sometimes, when the mass airflow sensor fails, it sends an error code to the ECM. Once the engine control module receives the error code, it will turn on the check engine light to alert you that something is wrong. The mass airflow sensor is one thing that will turn on the check engine light.
4. Hard Starting
Going back to the fuel-starved condition in your engine, this, too, will make it difficult to get your car started. This is because the car doesn’t have enough fuel in it to fire up and generate combustion. If the engine is flooded with fuel, it may not start because of this problem, as well.
5. Poor Engine Performance
You will also notice problems with your engine’s performance if your mass airflow sensor is going bad. If there is too much air in the engine, it will stutter and misfire. If there is too much fuel in the engine, it will surge and pick up speed sporadically.
6. Problems Idling
If the engine is fuel-starved, you will also notice that it’s idling roughly and acting as if it might stall. It might stall if the mass airflow sensor has died completely and the ECM fills the combustion chamber with air.
7. Reduced Fuel Economy
Finally, your vehicle will not get good gas mileage if you have a MAF sensor going bad. This is because of the imbalance of air and fuel in the combustion chamber. Whether your engine struggles or is surging, it will burn fuel inefficiently.
Look no further than Boulevard Auto Repair in Sherman Oaks, CA, for all of your automotive service and repair needs, including the MAF sensor. Call us today to schedule an appointment.
