Mass Air Flow Sensor on 87
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
From: Fairfax VT
Mass Air Flow Sensor on 87
Hi All,
Happy Holidays to all on the list. I have a question regardiing the Mass Airflow Sensor (MAS) on the 87. I purchased one from Advantage Auto here in Burlington VT. I bought a new one instead of a reman. I have have a question about what they sold me to replace the OEM unit. They sold me a unit that does not have a hot wire but it has a resistive circuit instead of a platinum wire. I double checked with AA and they said that it is absolutely the right one for my year. Is it usable on my car and if so what happens when the burn off relay cuts in ?
I have not installed the unit so I can take it back. I have had VERY good luck the Advantage Auto and Autozone parts. I am using AA sensors on the engine and it runs great. I used AA and AZ on my Fiero and it runs great too. Any comments would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Don :flag :flag :flag
Happy Holidays to all on the list. I have a question regardiing the Mass Airflow Sensor (MAS) on the 87. I purchased one from Advantage Auto here in Burlington VT. I bought a new one instead of a reman. I have have a question about what they sold me to replace the OEM unit. They sold me a unit that does not have a hot wire but it has a resistive circuit instead of a platinum wire. I double checked with AA and they said that it is absolutely the right one for my year. Is it usable on my car and if so what happens when the burn off relay cuts in ?
I have not installed the unit so I can take it back. I have had VERY good luck the Advantage Auto and Autozone parts. I am using AA sensors on the engine and it runs great. I used AA and AZ on my Fiero and it runs great too. Any comments would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Don :flag :flag :flag
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,120
Likes: 222
From: Ca.
Re: Mass Air Flow Sensor on 87 (Don in Vermont)
It's a wells maf. A lot of folk have had good luck with them. Personally I didn't.....the sensor film peeled up and flapped around causing very interesting throttle response! 
But then again that's with a SC.
But it is a "direct" replacement, it just ignores the burnoff command and will not set a code.
But then again that's with a SC.
But it is a "direct" replacement, it just ignores the burnoff command and will not set a code.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
From: Fairfax VT
Re: Mass Air Flow Sensor on 87 (drive it)
Hi,
Thanks for the reply and info. What might have happened with the lifted circuit is that if the unit malfunctioned and if the cutesy pie burn off bypass step didnt work then the burn off step could have gotten to the bonded resistor on the board. Gotta love the I squared R effect. Anyway I got the new MAF for future use.
All the best,
Don :flag :flag
Thanks for the reply and info. What might have happened with the lifted circuit is that if the unit malfunctioned and if the cutesy pie burn off bypass step didnt work then the burn off step could have gotten to the bonded resistor on the board. Gotta love the I squared R effect. Anyway I got the new MAF for future use.
All the best,
Don :flag :flag
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
From: Fairfax VT
Re: Mass Air Flow Sensor on 87 (Wheelman)
Hi,
Thanks for the reply.
When the MAF is in the normal driving mode the Platinum wire runs hot (somewhat near the level of incandecence). Even though it is hot, some contamination builds up and changes the value of the signal to the ECM. The "Burn Off" is a quick step that really heats up the wire for a very brief time so it can burn off the contamination and end up with a clean Plat. wire.
Best Regards,
Don
:flag :flag
Thanks for the reply.
When the MAF is in the normal driving mode the Platinum wire runs hot (somewhat near the level of incandecence). Even though it is hot, some contamination builds up and changes the value of the signal to the ECM. The "Burn Off" is a quick step that really heats up the wire for a very brief time so it can burn off the contamination and end up with a clean Plat. wire.
Best Regards,
Don
:flag :flag
