I did a MAF cleaning and here is my method.

You unplug your MAF harness, and unscrew the two screws:



you then inspect both sides of the MAF. This is the side that does not get direct air:



THIS is the side that the air flows against:



I then get out my high grade alcohol and q tips:



This is the dirt I get off my MAF:



This the same dirty side now cleaned up:



I really doubt it will change anything, but good to know its clean.

 

huh.. how long did it take? 10 mins or so?

 

Thank you, plac, for the nice photo tutorial on MAF cleaning. I've added a link to your tutorial to the Step-by-step maintenance sticky in the Maintenance forum.

 

Great info!!

 

ah less than 10 mins really.

 

nice quick and easy write up

 

The piece you cleaned is actually the intake air temp sensor, which is part of the MAF unit. The MAF sensor itself is a very thin wire on the inside, you can see it if you look through the opening. The MAF wire should NOT be cleaned with any direct contact method as it is very delicate and easily damaged. It shouldn't be cleaned with alcohol either. The proper way to clean it is with MAF cleaner (CRC brand is available at most parts stores) sprayed into the opening.

 

REALLY??? DANG.. then this whole post is wrong information... im happy tho, cuz i still have the problem. I have dealt with the hair thickness wire in MAFs, and I know how to be careful. I do have some electrical spray also which I can use for the REAL MAF then.. I guess the airbox top has to come out?

 

nice

 

There is nothing else in the top airbox except that one sensor, I have to figure out where my MAF is.

 

I found the pic and that MAF wire is actually in the same piece. Here is the pic to clarify:

 

Rather than use the spray you have (contact cleaner?) which could hurt the MAF, I'd suggest going to the store and spending the $5 on a can of the proper stuff. A new MAF is about $200 so you don't want to damage it.

 

The MAF "coil" is inside the tube-like thing next to the temp sensor (amber drop looking thing you cleaned above). I use the CRC MAF sensor cleaner to clean mine but I am also very careful not to spray it directly. What I do is spray inside the tube but I actually spray the side of the tube so that the MAF cleaner spray deflects onto the "coil". It is so sensitive that I do not even trust spraying the coil directly with the right stuff.

The MAF cleaner is such a good solvent it just needs to soak the coil to clean it, i.e. it doesn't need a direct spray, scrubbing, etc. It is also very volatile so it evaporates quickly (like electronic components cleaner).

The main thing I notice after a cleaning is better idle. Hope this helps.

 

ya i found my car is running pretty smooth after all this cleanup

 

I preffer fast drying electronic cleaner so i don't touch the sensor.