blueviol Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 What are the typical symptoms of bad MAF sensor? My car suddenly lost power and wouldn't rev RPM. THe downpipes before the front converters get really hot and red causing some smoke. I first thought it would be the clogged converters, but running the car with the converters removed didn't help. My mechanic said there is too much fuel going into the cylinders and uncombusted fuel gets into the converter making it get hot. The engine vibrates and makes weird clogged noise. The RPM wouldn't go anything higher than 1500 and moves up and down by itself when I apply constant gas. Of course I couldn't drive it faster than 20- 25 mph. It happened when I was accelerating from 0 to 40 mph in a local highway and I first thought something got loose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AppleJack Posted September 23, 2006 Share Posted September 23, 2006 I had identical effects when putting new ignition cables. I mixed two of them up and the car ran just like you've described... Had any cables changed lately ??? good luck ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueviol Posted September 23, 2006 Author Share Posted September 23, 2006 no i recently had an alignment and general check up service at Firestone. Right after things happened, this one guy found that one cable (was told it was an air cable) was loose. I put it right back on, but it was the same. Now my mechanic is saying I might have to change the MAF sensor. Do you think it can be the reason? Thanks. I had identical effects when putting new ignition cables. I mixed two of them up and the car ran just like you've described... Had any cables changed lately ??? good luck ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexus082 Posted September 24, 2006 Share Posted September 24, 2006 Is your check engine light coming on? Mine did when the MAF sensor went bad. You could try cleaning the sensor, it might just be dirty. I recently saw an mass airflow sensor on ebay motors with a low starting bid. Just make sure the year is compatible with your SC400 if go that route. I purchased a used MAF sensor off of ebay. A new one is over $900 and a used one in working condition would be alot cheaper. When I had my problem I could drive it alright, I think it was hard to drive the rpm's up like you said. Also, when I would come to a stop (traffic light) then rpm's would drop really low, almost like it was about to stall out. I think it actually stalled out once. When the rpm's dropped when at a traffic light my check engine light and TRAC lights would come on also. Also, I think I had about 130,000 miles when the sensor went bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueviol Posted September 24, 2006 Author Share Posted September 24, 2006 hmmm...mine is closing at 250K miles, so I think it's lasted for some good time. Did your car make clogged engine sound also, and the red hot pipe around the converters? I will get one off of eBay and see what it will do. If not, I will need to take it to a dealer and get it checked. Winter is just around the corner and I tend to have a thought on an S4 these days for that quattro system. Is your check engine light coming on? Mine did when the MAF sensor went bad. You could try cleaning the sensor, it might just be dirty. I recently saw an mass airflow sensor on ebay motors with a low starting bid. Just make sure the year is compatible with your SC400 if go that route. I purchased a used MAF sensor off of ebay. A new one is over $900 and a used one in working condition would be alot cheaper. When I had my problem I could drive it alright, I think it was hard to drive the rpm's up like you said. Also, when I would come to a stop (traffic light) then rpm's would drop really low, almost like it was about to stall out. I think it actually stalled out once. When the rpm's dropped when at a traffic light my check engine light and TRAC lights would come on also. Also, I think I had about 130,000 miles when the sensor went bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teelias Posted October 18, 2006 Share Posted October 18, 2006 I had the same problem. Disconnect the MAF at the sensor and it should go away. If it does, go to ebay and buy the cheapest. You may have to buy a few to get a good one.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gategem Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 I have a similar problem and the mechanic found the maf to be the problem. A larger problem is finding one that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. DirectAuto.com sells rebuilt ones but everyone they send me is dead. They have been having problems with them so I’m still searching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jzz30 Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 coil? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CantSeeMe Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 coil? I know this thread is pretty dated. But it sounds like an ignition coil to me too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Northcott Posted February 10, 2007 Share Posted February 10, 2007 I have had a similar problem with mine, sent the ecu away to be looked at and come back with a small list, no exact details yet but this was a list Ignition Problem Air flow sensor readings Transmission sensor Speed Sender Injector staying open So that was one of the problems car is still in the workshop waiting on the extractors to come and be fitted before I get it back. Good luck Oh I've had a coil go it will run on 4 cylinders if it's the 8, basically a subaru wrx sound and no balls so goes about as good as one does Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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