problems with maf / bucking

[advocate]

Ive had this bucking/surging problem the past two weeks that at first I contributed to bad gas... though a tank later and its still there. I have reset the pcm, Cleaned the MAF, IAB and throttle body let them dry and it was still there.

So last night I decided to take a run with the maf unplugged... It ran great, very smooth, much more power! Plug the maf back in and back to no power under ~5000rpm, surging at all rpms, poor fuel economy, some times it feels as tho the secondaries are not opening, some times it will surge its way to 4000 rpm then take off when the secondaries open. Though never with the power it had when I unhooked the MAF plug.

So now do I upgrade and buy a new maf (C&L) or buy a new oem maf... could it just be the wires going to the maf?

The car has no CE lights (except for when the plug is off the maf). Ive had the car for only about 10,000 km. And the maf is plugged in (dont want to drive without it for too long.. )

thanks in advance.

<small>[ December 02, 2003, 11:35 AM: Message edited by: advocate ]</small>

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

Unless you are planning on some decent power modificactions... Id suggest finding a new/used stock MAF. Try posting a want-to-buy ad in the appropriate section of the forum. Somebody has got to have one for cheap thumb

 

[projectSHO89]

You can try cleaning the sensor elements first, but I would not be optimistic that that will correct the problem.

Be sure to disconnectand reconnect the battery after cleaning or replacement so that the computer relearns everything.

Steve

 

[AutoSHO]

advocate:
So now do I upgrade and buy a new maf (C&L) or buy a new oem maf... could it just be the wires going to the maf?

The C&L MAF is a downgrade, and it won't solve your problem. It uses the stock sensor package, which is what has failed on your car. They make perfectly good running SHOs slower, so I cam only imagine what they would do to yours.

 

[bckicked]

the maf sensor meters the air coming into the intake, the computer takes this info and compares it with the air coming out of the engine via the 02 sensors this info tells the computer how rich or lean fuel mixture should be. saying all that: when you disconnect the maf the computer puts the fuel mixture in a default mode slightly rich condition. thus seeming to make the car perform better.

your problem could stem from other things that would cause over rich or over lean condition.
do a diagnostic code check but remember the 02 sensors could be causing this condition

good luck
brett

 

[advocate]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Last night though I noticed that my secondaries were not moving when I revved past 4000 rpm or started or turned off the car. After some reading on here from numerous posts I found the vacum hose routing and checked it out. What I found was an electrical connection not plugged in. shrug Plugged it in and the secondary plates shut.

Now I have much smoother car throughout the revs, more bottom end power and the only surge I get is a very welcome one at 4000rpm! Engine sounds alot healthier too!
I just wonder how long it has been unplugged for..

Again thanks for the help!