Mass-air sensor 88 coupe
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Bowmanville ont
Mass-air sensor 88 coupe
If I start the car with the mass-air plugged in it is hard to start and when it does start the car is smoking badly and runs poorly/big hessitation/bog.When I unplug the mass-air it starts up easily and seems like it runs perfectly.Is the mass-air to blame or one of the relays or something else?I have been having an intermitant starting problem for some time now and have changed alot of parts including the mass-air relays.Keep in mind that when I did this test the car was cold and had not been started in a couple of days.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
More than likely your MAF sensor or one or more of your MAF circuit components has a problem. The first thing to do before digging into anything would be to check your ECM for stored trouble codes. Do a "search" here on the forum for directions or most autoparts stores will pull/check trouble codes for free.
On the '88 there are 2 relays for the MAF (burn off and power) replace them both (~ $15 USD each) to see if that helps. If still no dice replace the MAF sensor.
If you just want to install a new MAF sensor make sure you install new relays at the same time....a sticking burn off relay will destroy a old/new MAF sensor in about 1 minute....$$$
On the '88 there are 2 relays for the MAF (burn off and power) replace them both (~ $15 USD each) to see if that helps. If still no dice replace the MAF sensor.
If you just want to install a new MAF sensor make sure you install new relays at the same time....a sticking burn off relay will destroy a old/new MAF sensor in about 1 minute....$$$
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 1
From: Niagara Falls ON
I had the same thing with my 1986. I had no codes so I looked elsewhere.
What I found was that the problem was not related to the MAF. I found wires shorting out on the steering column under the battery and also the weatherstrip was allowing water to run down the firewall and get into the wires. The moisture in the area also evaporated and got into the distributor cap so I had to replace that since everything inside was corroded.
I the end the MAF was fine, it just happened to be there first place that I looked.
The moral of the story, if the car doesn't show any codes look somewhere else before spending lots of money on parts.
What I found was that the problem was not related to the MAF. I found wires shorting out on the steering column under the battery and also the weatherstrip was allowing water to run down the firewall and get into the wires. The moisture in the area also evaporated and got into the distributor cap so I had to replace that since everything inside was corroded.
I the end the MAF was fine, it just happened to be there first place that I looked.
The moral of the story, if the car doesn't show any codes look somewhere else before spending lots of money on parts.
