MAF sensor
Author
Discussion

Alfachick

Original Poster:

1,639 posts

218 months

Wednesday 18th March 2009
quotequote all
I think that my MAF sensor may be on the way out AGAIN!!! If it is and it has to be replaced it will be the third one in 15 months! Is it normal for the GTV V6 to eat through them THIS quickly? I know they go through them but this is ridiculous!

Fingers crossed that it is a false alarm and it will sort itself out.....

RicksAlfas

14,264 posts

265 months

Wednesday 18th March 2009
quotequote all
It's common on recon/bodged/Ebay sourced units, or if you have an aftermarket air filter fitted.
A genuine Bosch item should last years.

Alfachick

Original Poster:

1,639 posts

218 months

Wednesday 18th March 2009
quotequote all
No aftermarket air filter fitted. And I damn sure hope that it isn't a bodged / ebay / reconditioned unit as the place that I got it changed at last charged me £300 for it.

jamieboy

5,921 posts

250 months

Wednesday 18th March 2009
quotequote all
I had mine cleaned when I first got my GTV V6, and it was fine for three years after that. As far as I know it was the original part, so could well be ~10 years old.

Three in 15 months sounds excessive...

RicksAlfas

14,264 posts

265 months

Wednesday 18th March 2009
quotequote all
What about doing it yourself?
You can mail order the bit from here and at least you'll know it's right.
http://www.alfaworkshop.co.uk/parts/GTV_Airflow_Me...

As Jamie says it does seem very excessive! Make sure the air box lid is sealing too. The MAF is very delicate and anything getting past the air filter (dust/bugs/flies) can damage it.

Alfachick

Original Poster:

1,639 posts

218 months

Wednesday 18th March 2009
quotequote all
I think I will spend some time this weekend cleaning it with a friend who seems to know what he is doing. The problem is intermitent if you know what I mean and is the same problem I had previously just before the other ones went.
Although to be fair one garage fitted the wrong one and I ran about on that one for a while before I got it replaced with the right one at a different garage.
What is wrong with carbs?! sigh

RicksAlfas

14,264 posts

265 months

Thursday 19th March 2009
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Did you know that the V6 started off with 6 (SIX!) individual carbs on it??! I bet if you had those you'd be wishing for injection.
hehe
One thing to check if you are having a nosy around - check all the air intake pipe for splits and cracks. It can happen that a crack develops but it only opens up under pressure - hence the intermittent problem. In 90% of cases you can rule out the MAF by driving with it unplugged - the ECU runs at a fixed safe setting in that state.

pdV6

16,442 posts

282 months

Thursday 19th March 2009
quotequote all
It does sound a lot. Mine is OE and still going strong after 8 years.

Alfachick

Original Poster:

1,639 posts

218 months

Thursday 19th March 2009
quotequote all
RicksAlfas said:
Did you know that the V6 started off with 6 (SIX!) individual carbs on it??! I bet if you had those you'd be wishing for injection.
hehe
One thing to check if you are having a nosy around - check all the air intake pipe for splits and cracks. It can happen that a crack develops but it only opens up under pressure - hence the intermittent problem. In 90% of cases you can rule out the MAF by driving with it unplugged - the ECU runs at a fixed safe setting in that state.
That sounds like a plan, so how do I go about unplugging it? Just whip it off and then connect the air hose straight to the intake hose if you know what I mean? I did have a crack in one of the air hoses but that was replaced, apparently that is what caused the 1st MAF sensor to go.

Six carbs. Bet they were a total bugger to set up! But the sound must have been awesome!

tuscan_thunder

1,763 posts

267 months

Thursday 19th March 2009
quotequote all
300quid? were they taking the you-know-what?

it's a two minute job to change.

Alfachick

Original Poster:

1,639 posts

218 months

Thursday 19th March 2009
quotequote all
tuscan_thunder said:
300quid? were they taking the you-know-what?

it's a two minute job to change.
Better than the 1st garage who charged £380 for the same thing. Damn it.
Also I thought the car was still under warenty from the place that I had bought it, turns out that it wasn't as that place had gone bust. Bit of a cluster fk really.


RicksAlfas

14,264 posts

265 months

Thursday 19th March 2009
quotequote all
Alfachick said:
RicksAlfas said:
Did you know that the V6 started off with 6 (SIX!) individual carbs on it??! I bet if you had those you'd be wishing for injection.
hehe
One thing to check if you are having a nosy around - check all the air intake pipe for splits and cracks. It can happen that a crack develops but it only opens up under pressure - hence the intermittent problem. In 90% of cases you can rule out the MAF by driving with it unplugged - the ECU runs at a fixed safe setting in that state.
That sounds like a plan, so how do I go about unplugging it?
Just unplug the electrical connection going into the sensor.
Leave all the pipework as is. Just unplug the connector.

tuscan_thunder

1,763 posts

267 months

Thursday 19th March 2009
quotequote all
Alfachick said:
tuscan_thunder said:
300quid? were they taking the you-know-what?

it's a two minute job to change.
Better than the 1st garage who charged £380 for the same thing. Damn it.
Also I thought the car was still under warenty from the place that I had bought it, turns out that it wasn't as that place had gone bust. Bit of a cluster fk really.
just noticed you're aberdeenshire. if you have any problems, send me an email thru PH and I'll try to help.