P0102 - MAF - Clean or replace?

[BikeBikeBIke]

My car is showing P0102, MAF sensor.

It's comes up immediately, even after it's cleared. It hasn't come on gradually just started it one day and the Engine light stayed on so I'm guessing something may have drastically broken inside it, rather than a slow build up of dirt. (That's all conjecture.)

So, is it worth cleaning it with contact cleaner or better just to replace. (£40 for Boshche or Siemens.)

TIA

[paul_c123]

Sounds like a broken wire. First question is, is the MAF sensor the issue at all, or is it the wiring from its connector to the ECU? Because if its the wiring, replacing a good MAF sensor doesn't make sense.

And if it is the MAF sensor faulty, I don't believe cleaning will fix a broken wire.

Needs further diagnosis (proper diagnosis) before loading up the parts cannon.

[21TonyK]

Mine's doing exactly the same, just cleaned it with WD-40 contact cleaner and cleared the code this evening. See if it comes back on tomorrow.

Worth a go, 80+ quid from Autodoc!

[GVK]

What does the fault description say about the MAF code? Or is it just a basic code reader?

[BikeBikeBIke]

GVK said:

What does the fault description say about the MAF code? Or is it just a basic code reader?

"Mass or volume air flow A circuit low".

And yes, it's a very basic reader.

[BikeBikeBIke]

paul_c123 said:

Sounds like a broken wire. First question is, is the MAF sensor the issue at all, or is it the wiring from its connector to the ECU? Because if its the wiring, replacing a good MAF sensor doesn't make sense.

And if it is the MAF sensor faulty, I don't believe cleaning will fix a broken wire.

Needs further diagnosis (proper diagnosis) before loading up the parts cannon.

So what's the next step? I have a multimeter but zero experience of testing MAFs.

[Belle427]

Check the air filter isn`t restricted and that there are no intake leaks from loose pipework first. If your reader has the option to look at live data you can monitor the maf reading there to see if the ecu is getting the info.
Cleaning is always worth a go though.

[E-bmw]

21TonyK said:

Mine's doing exactly the same, just cleaned it with WD-40 contact cleaner and cleared the code this evening. See if it comes back on tomorrow.

Worth a go, 80+ quid from Autodoc!

£80 quid for WD 40!!!!!

[E-bmw]

BikeBikeBIke said:

My car is showing P0102, MAF sensor.

It's comes up immediately, even after it's cleared. It hasn't come on gradually just started it one day and the Engine light stayed on so I'm guessing something may have drastically broken inside it, rather than a slow build up of dirt. (That's all conjecture.)

So, is it worth cleaning it with contact cleaner or better just to replace. (£40 for Boshche or Siemens.)

TIA

Point of note MAF issues are rarely a duff MAF.

Does the engine run OK?

What car/engine is it?

If you do replace go for the same make as OE.

[BikeBikeBIke]

E-bmw said:

BikeBikeBIke said:

My car is showing P0102, MAF sensor.

It's comes up immediately, even after it's cleared. It hasn't come on gradually just started it one day and the Engine light stayed on so I'm guessing something may have drastically broken inside it, rather than a slow build up of dirt. (That's all conjecture.)

So, is it worth cleaning it with contact cleaner or better just to replace. (£40 for Boshche or Siemens.)

TIA

Point of note MAF issues are rarely a duff MAF.

Does the engine run OK?

What car/engine is it?

If you do replace go for the same make as OE.

Engine runs as normal.

2nd gen Renault Trafic Van - 2010-2014.

Are MAF issues really rarely duff MAFs? You tube has vids of people fixing my fault code with new MAFs and on other vehicles fixing with cleaner and other people describing MAFs as consumables.

Yeah, I'm bracing myself for a nightmare but I'm mildly optimistic.

So I'll check the pipework around the MAF, check and clean the connectors, clean the MAF itself. Is there some testing I can do of the MAF itself? Will the values be written down somewhere?

[E-bmw]

BikeBikeBIke said:

E-bmw said:

BikeBikeBIke said:

My car is showing P0102, MAF sensor.

It's comes up immediately, even after it's cleared. It hasn't come on gradually just started it one day and the Engine light stayed on so I'm guessing something may have drastically broken inside it, rather than a slow build up of dirt. (That's all conjecture.)

So, is it worth cleaning it with contact cleaner or better just to replace. (£40 for Boshche or Siemens.)

TIA

Point of note MAF issues are rarely a duff MAF.

Does the engine run OK?

What car/engine is it?

If you do replace go for the same make as OE.

Engine runs as normal.

2nd gen Renault Trafic Van - 2010-2014.

Are MAF issues really rarely duff MAFs? You tube has vids of people fixing my fault code with new MAFs and on other vehicles fixing with cleaner and other people describing MAFs as consumables.

Yeah, I'm bracing myself for a nightmare but I'm mildly optimistic.

So I'll check the pipework around the MAF, check and clean the connectors, clean the MAF itself. Is there some testing I can do of the MAF itself? Will the values be written down somewhere?

OK, maybe I didn't explain properly.

MAF fault codes are mostly leaking inlet hose/pipe work or similar with a smattering of wiring issues and dirty MAFs, but rarely actual defective MAFs.

[E-bmw]

BikeBikeBIke said:

Engine runs as normal.

2nd gen Renault Trafic Van - 2010-2014.

Diesel/petrol?

[BikeBikeBIke]

E-bmw said:

BikeBikeBIke said:

Engine runs as normal.

2nd gen Renault Trafic Van - 2010-2014.

Diesel/petrol?

Diesel.

[BikeBikeBIke]

E-bmw said:

BikeBikeBIke said:

E-bmw said:

BikeBikeBIke said:

My car is showing P0102, MAF sensor.

It's comes up immediately, even after it's cleared. It hasn't come on gradually just started it one day and the Engine light stayed on so I'm guessing something may have drastically broken inside it, rather than a slow build up of dirt. (That's all conjecture.)

So, is it worth cleaning it with contact cleaner or better just to replace. (£40 for Boshche or Siemens.)

TIA

Point of note MAF issues are rarely a duff MAF.

Does the engine run OK?

What car/engine is it?

If you do replace go for the same make as OE.

Engine runs as normal.

2nd gen Renault Trafic Van - 2010-2014.

Are MAF issues really rarely duff MAFs? You tube has vids of people fixing my fault code with new MAFs and on other vehicles fixing with cleaner and other people describing MAFs as consumables.

Yeah, I'm bracing myself for a nightmare but I'm mildly optimistic.

So I'll check the pipework around the MAF, check and clean the connectors, clean the MAF itself. Is there some testing I can do of the MAF itself? Will the values be written down somewhere?

OK, maybe I didn't explain properly.

MAF fault codes are mostly leaking inlet hose/pipe work or similar with a smattering of wiring issues and dirty MAFs, but rarely actual defective MAFs.

Thanks, leaks are comparatively easy to check, as is the filter.

BUT, the fact it comes back instantly when cleared (even when not running) makes me suspect that it's a totally failed MAF or wiring. I'd have thought that a leak would manifest itself fairly randomly, at different revs.

But yeah, I can clean the MAF and connectors which is as much wiring work as I can practically do. Look for perishing in the pipe, check the filter. See what happens.

I guess after that the next thing is decide between a new MAF or a visit from an auto electrician.

[E-bmw]

If it comes back without even starting the engine, I would be looking for a full short/open circuit, therefore wiring.