Baumblog EST 1968 - A blog for the Baumbachs who originated in Syracuse, NY

Has anyone tried cleaning their MAF sensors? Some say just replace it, some say cleaning works well. Just wondering if any of you have tried it and how it worked.

The check engine light is on, on the van, and the shop told me it was the MAF sensor. My air filter was pretty dirty (shame on me) so it probably gummed up the MAF sensor. I really don't want to spend $150 on a new one. I'll probably try cleaning it first anyway.

Geoff said 25 minutes later

You can clean it. Spray MAF cleaner from a parts store will do the trick:

http://www.autobarn.net/maairflsecl1.html
GJ said about 4 hours later

Oh, and switch to K&N filters. I use them on my van, too. Haven't had a problem with my MAF sensors on either car (somehow I failed to break it putting in the CAI on the Pontiac. Of course, you have to clean and oil them yearly, but they never fail and allow crap to clog the MAF.

See this article for instructions on cleaning one.
Eric said about 5 hours later

Already have the K&N on the van - I just forgot to clean it. Thus the MAF sensor went bad. Again, shame on me. Hopefully the CRC MAF Sensor Cleaner will do the trick. And I WILL clean the filter.
GJ said about 16 hours later

Spring ritual for me. :) Oh crap, it's not spring anymore!!!
Geoff said 1 day later

you call this summer?
Eric said 4 days later

Well, I cleaned the MAF and the filter. No change on the "Service Engine Soon" light. Hopefully after a few more drive cycles, it will trun off.
Geoff said 4 days later

Wonder if unplugging the battery for 30 minutes or so might help?
GJ said 4 days later

Not likely. If the condition still persists, the light stays on. If the condition is an averaged read, it'll take a bit to go off. Pulling the battery probably will reset the code, but not fix the problem if it still exists.

It's possible it's one of those errors that doesn't clear without an OBD-II manual flush, I don't know the system well enough to say for sure. In that case, Geoff's approach would work.