[Tom]

Hope this helps someone else too:
For the past 6 months my GTS has been bogging just after 5K RPM, and then running OK when it hit lift. The only mods I have are the TRD exhaust and the TRD filter in the stock airbox. I cleaned the MAF sensor and the problem is fixed. Both the "wires" were covered with a black, oily looking grit that came off easily with alcohol and a Q-tip. The temperature sensor also was covered on the inlet side. The filter has about 15K miles on it and has not been cleaned yet. This is the second time in 28K miles I've cleaned the MAF sensor, the first time was just preventative maintenance. I'm going to clean it about once a year now.

 

[spectra_freak]

Why are the MAFS so sensitive with the Celica? I had to replace mine recently and I keep hearing that everyone has to clean theirs. I've not heard of this very much on other cars.

 

[Chris25NJ]

by replacing our filters with higher flowing aftermarket ones, we are increasing the chance for dirt to get in there, and if you have a filter which uses oil to collect dirt, then the oil can also coat the MAF as already stated......this is mainly why this is becoming a regular maintenance issue for all of us....

however, I also agree with spectra_freak with with aftermarket filters on other cars, cleaning the maf doesn't usually need to be done.

I've come to the conclusion the celica engine is delicate and high maintenance and we all just have to deal with it.

 

[2KGTS]

Wires? What wires? Maybe I don't know what the MAF is? Isn't it right after the filter box, removed with two screws?

I have a rough acceleration problem when not at WOT that I'm starting to troubleshoot and yanked that part and cleaned it with electronics cleaner. It's tough to describe, but it's a part with something that looks like an oversized q-tip with a hollow tip - all black. The only wires are at the connector which is outside the airflow area and subject to grime, I suppose. Is this the part you're talking about??

Thanks!

 

[ishido]

look up inside, there are two wires buried in the upper portion. Very difficult to see. You are just cleaning the air temp sensor. There are pics of it if you search for "maf(s) cleaning"

 

[absolut impreza]

maf's are very sensitve to crud, and this is also why K&N and other companies tell you not to over oil your filters because all the filter oil can be sucked on to the maf sensor. In some other cars MAF sensors actually have a quick burn off cycle everytime the car turns on, power is applied to the thin wire and in most cases it can get hot enough to glow orange. This burns all the crap off of it, of course that's what you're doing with q tips and alcohol

 

[Blue Bomber]

You shouldn't even need alcohol. I just use a Q-tip and it works fine.

 

[SilverRide]

Does anyone have a pic of the MAFS and the "wires" you need to clean?
I tried "search" but, all I found was a few red Xs`

 

[Blue Bomber]

Dirty wire:

Clean wire:

There are also two small delicate wires in one of the sides of the main shaft (black part with the hole in the middle) on the MAFS. You need to be careful when cleaning these.

 

[SilverRide]

Thanks!

 

[Tom]

These two pictures show the temp sensor. The "wires" can be seen by looking into the base of the unit with the main shaft pointing at you. You will need a flashlight to see them as they are inside the body of the sensor housing. They look like two small metallic resistors. These are the actual MAF part and are what really need to be cleaned.

 

[ishido]

Yes, clean the wires way up inside the MAF sensor. These are the wires you have to be very careful with. The air temp sensor only solves part of the problem.

 

[StreetFighter]

I have a question, with the clean MAF, is that middle part suppose to be amber colored?

 

[Tom]

Yes, that's the intake air temp sensor and it should be amber colored.

 

[Tom]

So - how did you finally get the screws on your MAF sensor out?

 

[Chris25NJ]

also very important, that portion of the MAF you see in the pictures, is really not the delicate and important piece that's making our cars run crappy.

The part that is causing our cars to run crappy can't be seen in a picture. You need to hold the MAF upside down and shine a flashlight in there to see it, and when cleaning be super super careful, cause those wires are very delicate.