After replacing or re-installing, resetting a car’s mass air flow sensor must work correctly. Without proper resetting, the engine may respond slower than usual and consume more fuel. In extreme cases, it can even cause severe accidents on the road due to poor response of the engine.
Fortunately, there’s an easy way to reset a mass air flow sensor when and if needed. Specific models require MAF sensor resetting for successful operation, while some don’t need such a process. Our guide will be able to provide you with detailed instructions about how to go about resetting your mass air flow sensor so that you have optimal performance from your vehicle without having any faults with its functioning.
🎯Suggested article: How To Turn Off Dashboard Warning Lights
When Do You Need To Reset Mass Air Flow Sensor?
The mass air flow sensor may experience damage, leading to specific symptomatic indications that the car could display.
Difficulties In Starting
The car will take a while to start, or it may give a jerk while starting; this is due to the airflow sensor not sending relevant details about airflow to the engine. An error in this communication leads to such troublesome occurrences.
Stalled Engine
When the engine is started, it may stall before functioning correctly. This could be caused by an issue in the spark plug or other components but more commonly has to do with problems in the mass air flow sensor.
Jerking While Acceleration
When the accelerator is pushed, one indicator of a faulty air flow sensor could be that the engine begins to jerk. This behavior might appear as if there’s reluctance on the part of the engine to move forward.
Hiccups In The Engine
If the mass airflow (MAF) sensor is not functioning correctly, it can cause hiccups in the car engine while driving. This can lead to a potentially hazardous situation on the road as the engine may become less responsive and put passengers and other drivers at risk of an accident.
Less Fuel Efficiency
A vehicle’s engine performance and fuel efficiency decline could indicate a faulty mass air flow sensor. This component sends the correct airflow information to the engine to decide how much fuel should be used in combustion. If there are any issues with the sensor, such as contamination or damage, then less fuel efficiency will result. In such cases, cleaning or replacing the sensor may prove necessary to restore proper functioning; once done correctly and resetting carried out afterward, regular performance levels should resume.
How Long Does It Take To Reset Mass Air Flow Sensor?
The mass air flow sensor can be reset by disconnecting the battery or the MAF sensor’s harness. The process is relatively quick and straightforward, taking no more than 12-15 minutes to complete.
How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Mass Air Flow Sensor?
The mass air flow sensor may cost anywhere from $90 to $370, depending on the quality. Installation charges can range significantly from $15 to $200.
Replacing the mass air flow sensor can be relatively easy, provided one has basic engine knowledge. It is suggested to seek professional help if they are not comfortable enough to complete the job themselves.
🚀Recommended article: How To Turn Off Bulb Warning Light
How To Reset The Mass Air Flow Sensor
Understanding when to reset the mass air flow sensor, it is now possible to demonstrate how to execute this task. Two methods can be employed successfully to achieve a successful reset.
Resetting The Mass Air Flow Sensor By Idling The Engine
- After driving, the engine should be turned off and allowed to cool down.
- The connector between the sensor and harness should then be removed.
- Next, the airflow sensor needs to be removed for proper cleaning if required; otherwise, a new sensor can replace it in place of the old MAF sensor.
- Then turning on the engine again for 5-6 seconds before switching it back off and connecting up with its original harness will show an error code DTC P0102 on the dashboard display screen.
- To eliminate that, one must clean up the memory space of the system first before attempting to start the engine again after any maintenance or repair work is done on the car’s electronic components like sensors, etcetera.
- Once everything else is properly carried out, turn the engine back on from cold or hot start mode, depending on how long the car has been sitting idle without running all this while.
- After that, reconnecting MAF ( Mass Air Flow ) Sensor with its connected wire & plugging them together at the wiring side comes into play here, too, so make sure no other loose ends are left hanging around there after the installation process of such parts takes place inside vehicular cabin area too.
- Â Lastly, a post-inspection checkup should also be conducted by the same professional auto mechanic or certified technician who has already worked hands-on with replacing faulty parts for the vehicle owner himself/herself gets satisfaction about quality assurance standards being maintained across the board when it comes to maintaining overall performance levels associated with automobile system functions within a specified threshold range for better operational efficiency output over period intervals spanning longer duration than usual expected life cycle usage periods involved therein.
The MAF sensor is now operational.
Resetting The Mass Air Flow Sensor By Disconnecting The Battery
- Disconnect the battery from the ground cable before connecting the sensor with its harness.
- Allow 10 minutes for the system to reset.
- Plug in the MAF sensor and turn on the engine afterward.
- Replace the old MAF sensor with a new one when prompted to do so by safety protocols or manufacturer directions.
Your new MAF sensor will start to work now!
🎯Suggested article: How Much Does A V12 Engine Cost in 2023?
Final Words
When the Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor of a car’s engine shows signs of trouble, it must be replaced. It would be beneficial in the long run to replace this part as soon as possible since running an engine with faulty MAF can lead to more expense due to increased fuel consumption. Replacing or re-installing this sensor should be done by someone knowledgeable about cars, and after that, it will need to be rested for optimal operation.