problems... pls help!

[019]

my check engine light came on and it was diagnosed as the mafs code. it's come a couple days after i put in my injen cai. i'm not really sure what to look at. i'm gonna clean my filter tom and see if that helps any, but i'm stumped. here's the problems i've encountered:

1. sometimes i'll engage the clutch and the rpm's will just drop all the way down past idle and stall

2. when engine gets warm and i'm in 3rd, 4th, or 5th gear, the engine will kinda stutter when i'm in the 2.5k to 4k rpm range. like it'll kinda jerk along. this only happens when going at constant speed, not when accelerating.

3. LOTS of black smoke. i guess that means i'm running too rich. i'm thinking maybe my filter's dirty, so not enough air is getting in. that's why i'm cleaning my filter.

so yea... that's what's wrong with my car. anyone have any clue? thanks for any help.

[AKADriver]

Check:
The MAF itself
The electrical connection to the MAF
The hose clamps on the intake
The hose connectors themselves

[drift into a curb]

Did you try resetting your ECU? and what about after you installed the injen intake? That may cause your smoke problems because your car has to adjust to your new mod. Maybe I'm way off, maybe I'm close, maybe someone will jump in and tell us the truth.

[A Dying Devotion]

I had the same prob it is the MAFS I bought a new one at autozone for $80 prob get one cheap off ebay or something but its an easy fix just pop it right in and its all fixed. I had black liquid leaking out of my exhaust along with the smoke it was kinda neat.

[019]

- i looked at the MAF and it looks alright, altho i gotta say i'm not really sure what to look for :P

- the hose clamps were on fine, as well as the connectors themselves. i made sure everything was on really tight.

- instead of cleaning my beat up filter i just bought a new one. i haven't driven around enough to be able to tell if it made a difference yet.

- i had my battery disconnected when i installed the intake, so i assume that should be ok. when trying to solve the problem i disconnected my battery for a while, to reset the ecu, altho i don't know if that really did the trick. is there another way to reset it?

a dying devotion - you had the exact same problem? damn... i think i'll have to go to a junkyard and see if i can find a cheap maf, hehe. how do i know if a maf is in good shape or not?

thanks for the help guys!

[MorganS13]

Originally posted by 019

2. when engine gets warm and i'm in 3rd, 4th, or 5th gear, the engine will kinda stutter when i'm in the 2.5k to 4k rpm range. like it'll kinda jerk along. this only happens when going at constant speed, not when accelerating.


i've been having this EXACT same problem for a couple months now. after replacing/cleaning different stuff and searching on the forums i've narrowed it down to a problem with my MAFS, throttle body, or vacuum leak from one of the old hoses on my intake. i'm going to clean my throttle body and MAFS element tommorw and hopefully that should take care of it though, i'll be sure to reply back..

[MorganS13]

tried it... seemed to help a little bit, the hesitation doesn't happen nearly as often anymore but its still there. i couldn't get to my throttle body so i just sprayed some valvoline throttle body cleaner into the brake booster hole on the intake pretty close to the rubber tube leading to the throttle body. next time i'm gonna take some sea foam and try that to see if its more effective along with clenaing my k&n (already cleaned my MAFS a little bit). overall after using sea foam in my gas tank, and cleaning parts like my distributor cap/rotor and replacing basic stuff (plugs, fuel filter, 02 sensor) its made a noticable difference in the smoothness of my engine. i guess searching for this problem is helping me keep my maintenance up to date. :o

[mrmephistopheles]

I say with 90% accuracy that it's the MAFS. I experienced the same symptoms with a faulty MAF on a '93.

[MorganS13]

Originally posted by mrmephistopheles
I say with 90% accuracy that it's the MAFS. I experienced the same symptoms with a faulty MAF on a '93.
i had a feeling that was it too... i couldn't get into it to clean it well but i took a cotton swab soaked in throttle body cleaner and did the best i could. anyone have any tricks or tips to clean the MAFS without damaging it? also how much did a new MAFS run you?

[019]

Originally posted by mrmephistopheles
I say with 90% accuracy that it's the MAFS. I experienced the same symptoms with a faulty MAF on a '93.

i hope you're right :) well i'm gonna get a new MAF and see if that works. keep y'all posted.

[mrmephistopheles]

Well, I actually had some success in lightly spraying the wire with some Wynn's Air Intake Cleaner. I don't know where you can find that off-the-shelf, but it worked for me. Your mileage may vary, however.
I'd say source a MAF from a junkyard. Shouldn't run you more than $100, plus I'd offer $40 or 50 to begin with. I have a spare sitting in my car, but... it's my spare.. for my car. :D

[drift freaq]

I have a spare maf availible if needed.