Yes, a dirty mass airflow sensor can make it very hard to start your car. This is because the MAF sensor, as it’s also called, is responsible for determining how much air flows into the engine. If it cannot do its job properly, your vehicle’s main computer, the engine control module, may put too much air in the engine and not enough fuel. Urb’s Garage can inspect your MAF sensor and clean it if it is dirty or replace it if it is malfunctioning. Here are additional signs that you have an MAF sensor problem.
Frequent Stalling
If your combustion chamber is dealing with a lean fuel mixture, which is what we just described above, it’s possible that you will not only have difficulty starting your car, but your car will stall after you get it started. The reason why your engine keeps stalling is that it doesn’t have enough gasoline to fire up and maintain engine combustion. A dirty MAF sensor can cause this problem.
Engine Hesitation
A hesitating engine also suggests that there is a problem with the MAF sensor. You may notice that your engine hesitates when you press down on the accelerator or when it is under stress. For example, driving up a steep hill is stressful on an engine and a faulty mass airflow sensor can make the engine sputter. You may also have rough idling if the MAF sensor is dirty.
Your engine should always pick up speed smoothly when you press down on the accelerator. If it jerks or hesitates, this is definitely a sign of a fuel delivery problem. As we have discussed in this blog, the fuel delivery problem could actually be an issue with the mass airflow sensor.
Engine Surges/Black Exhaust
Depending on the type of reading that the MAF sensor is sending to the engine control module, you may also end up with a rich fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. This mixture is heavy in fuel, and as the engine burns away the excess fuel, your vehicle may surge forward as if it’s a bucking bronco.
Another sign that your engine is burning away excess fuel is black exhaust smoke coming out of your tailpipe. In fact, you may see a puff of black exhaust when the engine surges forward. This can be caused by a faulty mass airflow sensor or a malfunctioning oxygen sensor.
Urb’s Garage in Erlanger and Burlington, KY, would be happy to help. Call the shop closest to you today to set up an appointment.
