How To Clean 1998 Subaru Forester Maf Repair

The mass airflow sensor (commonly abbreviated to MAF) is ane of the most important engine management sensors. A bad mass airflow sensor can leave your Subaru Forester'southward engine running rough, or fifty-fifty inoperable.

A MAF sensor measures the density of the air inbound the intake manifold. It passes this information onto your Forester's ECU. The ECU uses this information along with other sensor data to control the corporeality of fuel that enters the combustion chamber.

Bad MAF Sensor Subaru Forester

If you lot exercise decide that y'all need a new mass airflow sensor, they aren't also expensive. And, about of the time they are right by the air box and easy to replace.

Faulty Mass Airflow Sensor Symptoms: Subaru Forester

When the mass airflow sensor has gone bad, you'll definitely feel it. Here are the nearly common symptoms of a bad or failing MAF sensor:

Idle Issues– Your Forester may run rich or lean when idling, or it may likewise idle erratically. A rich condition is when there is not enough air relative to the fuel in the air/fuel mixture. The exhaust colour is usually darker when running rich. A lean condition is when there is too much air relative to fuel in the air fuel mixture. The exhaust color usually doesn't alter.
Difficult to Get-go– Without knowing the proper amount of air entering into the intake, it tin can exist really difficult for the engine to get-go. And when it does, information technology doesn't usually run very well.
Jerking– Every bit you lot go downwardly the road, you'll experience your Forester really jerk and hesitate equally the engine speed changes erratically. Information technology's bad for your motor mounts when this happens. Also, jerking tin exist caused by bad spark plugs or coil packs.
Decreased Fuel Mileage– Fuel mileage can endure without the proper air/fuel mixture.

Subaru Forester Bad Mass Airflow Sensor Diagnosis — Here a couple of mutual MAF sensor styles

Forester Bad MAF Sensor Diagnosis

If the MAF sensor has gone bad, it'll trigger the bank check engine light and provide an OBDII trouble code. This is great considering it helps yous narrow downwards the trouble. The two most common trouble codes in relation to the MAF sensor are:

Subaru Forester P0101 Diagnosis: MAF Sensor
Subaru Forester P0102: MAF Sensor Circuit Low

There are other codes related to the mass air menstruation sensor as well, but these are the nearly mutual ones. Here's a fantastic video on how to diagnose a bad MAF sensor using a multimeter from Ratchets and Wrenches on YouTube.

Cleaning the Mass Airflow Sensor

Often, the mass airflow sensor really simply needs cleaning when they go bad. Some folks recommend using alcohol because it'southward usually on hand, and can make clean the sensor. This is a bad thought, it can ruin the sensor. Uses mass airflow sensor cleaner. It's really inexpensive and available at any parts store. Information technology sure beats the heck out of having to buy a new sensor.

Locate the MAF Sensor– It'll be in betwixt the air filter and the throttle trunk.
Remove the Sensor- Take care not to harm the wiring harness or the connector pins that receive the harness in the MAF. Simple manus tools will exist all that you need to complete the job.
Make clean the Sensor– At present that you've removed your Forester'south MAF sensor, it's fourth dimension to clean it. You'll demand the MAF cleaner. You lot are non scrubbing anything. Let the chemicals practice their task. About a dozen small bursts will exist all that you demand.
Supervene upon the Sensor

Conclusion

Replacing a bad MAF sensor tin make your Forester feel like a new vehicle. Good luck with the diagnosis. If there is annihilation that you would like to add, please feel complimentary to leave a comment below.