serious problem after cleaning MAFS!

[rocket celica]

I cleaned the sensor using "electronic cleaner" from radio shack, the one w/ the brush. I scrubbed the little amber bulb and also I spray a lot of the liquid into the 5 holes near the rubber o-ring. I think maybe it was a bad idea to spray inside since alot of liquid got absorbed inside it.

The problem I have is with the 1st gear kick in. Either I don't feel the kick in as if the powerband was smooth, or it varies by kickin-in at 7k-8k.
Even if 1st gear kicks in normally, the 2nd gear is much stronger than 1st. at least double. The opposite is supposed to be true.

[Griffin]

Originally posted by rocket celica
I cleaned the sensor using "electronic cleaner" from radio shack, the one w/ the brush. I scrubbed the little amber bulb and also I spray a lot of the liquid into the 5 holes near the rubber oring. I think maybe it was a bad idea to spray inside since there is some white cloth or paper inside it seems.

The problem I have is with the 1st gear kick in. Either I don't feel the kick in as if the powerband was smooth, or it varies by kickin-in at 7k-8k.
Even if 1st gear kicks in normally, the 2nd gear is much stronger than 1st. at least double. The opposite is supposed to be true.

There cleaner is only meant to be sprayed on the metal elements that do the sensing.... and NOT near the O-ring that seals the intake tube... The main question is did you reset the ECM after cleaning? And did you clean the metal elements inside the black plastic tube - thats the actual MAF sensor component. The big bulb on the outside is the intake air temperature sensor.

Griffin

[LoCore]

Originally posted by Griffin


There cleaner is only meant to be sprayed on the metal elements that do the sensing.... and NOT near the O-ring that seals the intake tube... The main question is did you reset the ECM after cleaning? And did you clean the metal elements inside the black plastic tube - thats the actual MAF sensor component. The big bulb on the outside is the intake air temperature sensor.

Griffin

"metal elements inside the black plastic tube"? Are you saying that the MAF sensor needs to be taken apart and something inside the plastic is what needs to be cleaned?

I didn't realize the amber bulb was a temp sensor. I thought that was the MAF sensor.

There's been enough confusion about cleaning the MAF sensor, could you or someone else take some pictures and point out exactly what it is that needs to be sprayed/cleaned? That would really help a lot of people, myself included.

Thanks,

[kuruptgt]

i used elec cleaner on mine to and it fried it and i replaced it nd car runs like new

[pinoyracer]

:confused: that dark clear plastic amber is for the temperature sensor???

I thought that measures the air going through the intake??

[CloNeGTS]

I think people who are using any kind of cleaner are just asking for trouble. Yes, the stuff is made to clean electronics, but it's still a liquid and can still cause problems when sprayed where it shouldn't be.

I cleaned mine using only a Q-Tip and TRUST ME that's more than enough to clean it. I cleaned the amber bulb as well as the two resistors that live up inside the center tube of the MAFS. Not sure what each of em does, but they are much cleaner than they were when I found em.

[rocket celica]

What I want to know is why I'm having weak or erratic lift issues only in 1st gear. My low end is perfectly fine and 2nd gear as well as other gears xcept 1st is perfectly fine. What can cause only 1st gear to suffer power?
I get no CELs? shouldn't a damaged mafs always trigger a cel?

[Chui]

MAF sensors should not be f'd with.

[CloNeGTS]

cleaning the sensor is not the issue. The issue is using any kind of liquid to clean electronics.

And I'd assume you shorted something out if you sprayed some cleaner into the sensor.

[LoCore]

Originally posted by CloNeGTS

I cleaned mine using only a Q-Tip and TRUST ME that's more than enough to clean it. I cleaned the amber bulb as well as the two resistors that live up inside the center tube of the MAFS. Not sure what each of em does, but they are much cleaner than they were when I found em.

Hey Clone,

Are two long metal pieces to which the amber bulb attaches the resistors you are talking about, or did you clean something else?
If the amber bulb is a temp sensor, I'm having trouble visualizing what is actually measuring air flow. Does it measure air flow by sensing a resistance or capacitance change between the two metal pieces?

I sprayed some of the electrical contact cleaner onto a q-tip, then used that to clean off the amber bulb. You're right--that's more than enough to get the gunk off of it.

I guess I'll pull my MAF sensor out this afternoon and take some pictures so I can be certain as to what people are cleaning.

[swift 21]

just out of curiosity how much is a new mafs.

[TRlPPlN]

i hope you disconnected your battery and let it completey dry. i cleaned my maf with the the same thing and mine works better than before. well not works but my maf was dirty. i cleaned it and bought the air spray.

[LoCore]

Some pictures of the MAFS that shows the temp bulb and resistors that can be cleaned.

http://www.bigi.com/~djob/celica/maf/maf_side.jpg
http://www.bigi.com/~djob/celica/maf/maf_resistors.jpg

[CloNeGTS]

There ya go....those were the resistors I was talking about. I dunno what any of the parts actually do. My guess was that the resistors were some of those temperature sensitive resistors....but hey, I dunno.

[BoyRacer]

someone told me to use some carb cleaner. i guess this is a bad idea. so if i wanted to clean mine, should i use just a plain ole Q-tip very delicatlye of coarse, or should i spray some carb cleaner on a q-tip and clean it????? i dont want to F*** it up and spend 200 on a new one.

[t2000gts]

i sprayed electronics cleaners right down into the hole with the resistors, and i let it sit in the sun for a few minutes until it was dry, then i shook it until a few drops came out, let it dry again...then used a q-tip...i pushed it in so it touched the resistors (big fluffy cotton tip can reach both), then turned it to and fro, then took it out. a LITTLE bit of black stuff came on, but my resistors LOOK clean. they look just like that pic.

blew on it a few times, and wa la. "clean". i don't think the resistors can really get THAT dirty. they're so friggin' small. and it's impossible to clean thoroughly like the air temperature sensor.

no CEL, car runs fine.

i wonder how much a new MAF sensor costs.

[djm221]

I just cleaned mine with the electronics degreaser. I got the degreaser because if the filter oil is on there, that would clean it off. I let it dry for about an hour, put it in, started it and it was fine, and it reved fine too. Guess I should go drive it to make sure. ****ing thing better be ok.

[GearShifter6]

how much do new mafs cost from the factory?

[GTS LAID]

$110.69 + s/h

[djm221]

Originally posted by djm221
I just cleaned mine with the electronics degreaser. I got the degreaser because if the filter oil is on there, that would clean it off. I let it dry for about an hour, put it in, started it and it was fine, and it reved fine too. Guess I should go drive it to make sure. ****ing thing better be ok.

Well, I drove it and it is fine, better than before. I put the airbox back in for inspection this week, and I didn't get the morning lag like before (that could be a CAI thing though).

I feel safer spraying some alcohol on the sensors than jamming a q-tip down there.

[rocket celica]

I need to get my car inspected. I should not have used a liquid cleaner