Guys,
I was working inside the engine bay today trying to clean and replace a few worn items and decided to tackle the stock mass air flow sensor and rubber intake tract. I first went to lowes and bought an $8 fernco 3'' curved tube. This directly replaced the factory tube as mine was torn and had crap all in it from the previous owner. I then removed the maf sensor and looked inside it. Holy ****! It had black engine gunk junk inside it and was looking bad! I decided to remove it and take it into my shop for cleaning. I used mothers polish and my dremel tool with a polish wheel to work the insides. It was at this point I carefully removed the screen and retainer clip inside the unit. When done polishing It looked better than new and slick as glass. I sat and wondered about the screen and then jumped on trusty :SNSign: to do a search for removing this screen. many people said to leave it , but a few said they removed it with no problems. So I made a decision to leave it out and bolt everything back up with the addition of a 9'' K&N filter on the end of the MAF sensor. Everything looks great now on the intake tract, but how would she act without the screen. In my mind the car had to perform better after cleaning it...or so I thought.
I sat down and cranked the beast up. Only to have it stumble and immediately die.
After several attempts I was getting worried that I destroyed the unit when polishing.But I was very careful arounf the inside hair like wires, I never even got near them. I cranked it up again and she stumbled, but this time I held my foot on the gas for 1 minute or so. I let off and the car idled, but choppy like a big cam. I took it around the block and it seemed to run better after a 1 mile jaunt. I figured the PCM was adjusting itself to the new things I had done. It idled fine after that.
Yesterday morning I went to crank up the car and dammit, same thing again. I had to hold my foot on the gas to keep her running for a minute or two. I was pissed at this point, but common sense tapped me on the shoulder and said " hey , why not put the screen back in and try it"
It took me a few minutes, but put it back in and tried to crank the car. Damn thing fired right up and idled fine!!!
I know there are big debates if the screen removal causes problems. I found out first hand that it cause me idleing issues when cold. Now I have a freshly polished MAF and new intake tract and all works great! No issues.
For any guys experimenting, just search for my thread and save yourself some time. Its there for a reason!
I was working inside the engine bay today trying to clean and replace a few worn items and decided to tackle the stock mass air flow sensor and rubber intake tract. I first went to lowes and bought an $8 fernco 3'' curved tube. This directly replaced the factory tube as mine was torn and had crap all in it from the previous owner. I then removed the maf sensor and looked inside it. Holy ****! It had black engine gunk junk inside it and was looking bad! I decided to remove it and take it into my shop for cleaning. I used mothers polish and my dremel tool with a polish wheel to work the insides. It was at this point I carefully removed the screen and retainer clip inside the unit. When done polishing It looked better than new and slick as glass. I sat and wondered about the screen and then jumped on trusty :SNSign: to do a search for removing this screen. many people said to leave it , but a few said they removed it with no problems. So I made a decision to leave it out and bolt everything back up with the addition of a 9'' K&N filter on the end of the MAF sensor. Everything looks great now on the intake tract, but how would she act without the screen. In my mind the car had to perform better after cleaning it...or so I thought.
I sat down and cranked the beast up. Only to have it stumble and immediately die.
After several attempts I was getting worried that I destroyed the unit when polishing.But I was very careful arounf the inside hair like wires, I never even got near them. I cranked it up again and she stumbled, but this time I held my foot on the gas for 1 minute or so. I let off and the car idled, but choppy like a big cam. I took it around the block and it seemed to run better after a 1 mile jaunt. I figured the PCM was adjusting itself to the new things I had done. It idled fine after that.
Yesterday morning I went to crank up the car and dammit, same thing again. I had to hold my foot on the gas to keep her running for a minute or two. I was pissed at this point, but common sense tapped me on the shoulder and said " hey , why not put the screen back in and try it"
It took me a few minutes, but put it back in and tried to crank the car. Damn thing fired right up and idled fine!!!
I know there are big debates if the screen removal causes problems. I found out first hand that it cause me idleing issues when cold. Now I have a freshly polished MAF and new intake tract and all works great! No issues.
For any guys experimenting, just search for my thread and save yourself some time. Its there for a reason!
