Car Fix DIY Videos

Have a CEL code of P0171 & P0174? This might be your issue!

Lean codes could be caused by worn out MAFs, O2 sensors, or fueling issues. If your car has 100k on it, especially turbo models, it’s cheap insurance to replace the MAF.

Mass Air Flow Sensor (MAF) FAQ: Read as you know less than you think you do!
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2639657

Running your car lean can cause the ending to go poof! Make sure yours is clean or new.

OK, I’m sufficiently scared, so what do I need to do now? After combining the opinions of the five Famous Name Tuners, this is your recommended route: Clean your MAF often and replace it every 100,000 miles if it needs it or not.

Well how often do I clean it? There’s some variance in opinion with this from yearly to every other oil change, but suffice it to say, if you have an oil impregnated air filter of one form or another, you should be erring on the side of sooner so you might be best off with every other oil change while the dry filter folks should do it yearly.

Well, how do I clean it? I’m glad you asked as I just did it with pictures as I’m a damned nice guy. Read carefully and don’t do what I did as I screwed the pooch on this and went to maximum Jimmy Rustle on Father’s Day.

Buy the supplies you need ahead of time as you may need them and if you don’t have them, you have have much suck. Supplies are:
a. anti-seize (whatever flavor you like).
b. 2 new MAF screws. M4 by .7 is the size, length stock the internet says is 1″ long, but yours may be shorter depending on the intake you have so buy several lengths as a 2 screw bag runs a whopping 60 cents at Home Depot. You can also get them with socket heads vice Phillips heads, but I’d not recommend those as its easier enough to strip/break the MAF with a screwdriver let alone with a ratchet. And if you think you won’t need new MAF screws, I got news for you….you will. And you could always get these at the dealership if you wear a monocle.
c. New MAF O-ring. The size is 28mm id x 32mm o.d. x 2mm thick. Since this is just an air seal, there’s not much need for exotic material, just a plain old O-ring will do. Should run you a whopping $1 in the real world, and $Texas at the dealership.
d. MAF cleaner. You can CRC MAF Cleaner, CRC Electrical Contact Cleaner (same as Item 1 only $2 cheaper), or non chlorinated brake cleaner.

You will need these parts because your stock stuff has likely given up the ghost and you are better off looking for them BEFORE the install than after. Ask me how I know….

Enjoy!