Cleaning the MAF, how to?

scottmandue · 04-01-2015, 12:06 PM

My Miata has a chronic rough idle, have done the full tune up (Plugs, cables, filters, checked timing, etc.).
It has been suggested I clean the MAF, can I just pull it apart and spray it with carb cleaner?
TIA

onewhippedpuppy · 04-01-2015, 12:12 PM

Use MAF cleaner, it is less harsh. If it's too far gone no cleaning will bring it back.

ChemMan · ChemMan's Garage

CRC Mass Air Flow Sensor cleaner has worked well for me.

aschen · 04-01-2015, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChemMan

CRC Mass Air Flow Sensor cleaner has worked well for me.

my subaru had a studder at 4k rpm for literally 3 years or so, finally it threw a maf related code.

I cleaned it gently with the crc stuff and it didnt really help.

Since my next step was to buy a new sensor, I got a bit more midevil with the stuff and sprayed tons of it directly into the sensor. I used basically the whole can on the sensor.

Car ran like a champ right away. I had gotten so use to the stumble at 4 k-rpm that it surprised me occasionally when it was gone

scottmandue · 04-01-2015, 01:11 PM

Thanks guys! The CRC MAF cleaner is about $10 a can +\-, removing and cleaning the MAF will be more of a problem than cleaning. I will also inspect all the rubber manifold fittings/hoses for cracks seeing as that can be the cause of a rough idle.

John Rogers · 04-01-2015, 02:45 PM

What do the "experts" on the Miata forums say? With my Chevy HHR questions, I check the HHR forums and they are generally spot on. Their advice was about you said you are going to do so I guess it is pretty much the same for most makes?

enzo1 · 04-01-2015, 03:12 PM

make sure you don't touch the wire.... I usually just spray it with it in place

BReif61 · 04-01-2015, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by enzo1

make sure you don't touch the wire.... I usually just spray it with it in place

I echo this. My E46 was having MAF issues, and everything looked ok until I noticed that one of the very fine sensor wires had broken. Incredibly easy to miss unless you were in bright light and looking directly at it. I bought a junkyard MAF for ~$8 and hit it with the CRC cleaner and have been great ever since.

If you do need a new one, it never hurts to take a flier on a junkyard MAF, IMO. Not with how much cheaper they are.