Info on car for reference
1987 IROC
305 swapped to 350 (bought it from previous owner that way)
-Runs a lil bit on the rich side, but runs alot better this day compared to the day when I first got her.

I've had a code 36 on the car for about a good year or so. I diagnosed the car and it came out as this:
Mass Air Flow (MAF)
Sensor Burnoff
Circuit Problem


Now I have a few questions, in which again, I did follow up on this site, but came to a dead end. (alot helping, but some a lil bit misleading and confusing).

If anyone encountered this, I'm curious as to know what you did to solve/fix the problem.

1. I come to an understanding that there's 2 relays.
- MAF Power Relay
- MAF Burnoff Relay
Where are they located exactly? I read it's near the brake booster on the firewall on the driver's side. HOWEVER, I read that it's different from other 3rd gen camaros. Example 86 is different from an 89 etc..
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2. I also read that the 2 relays are different from eachother, in which they have different part numbers. HOWEVER, when I read on here, people were coming up short on a different relay part number, and were/was ultimately using a relay that was the same (ex. 2 burn off relays OR 2 power relays) due to the computer not listing any part # for the other relay. Good example is Autozone only having 1 part # for one relay.
Anyone have the correct part numbers for the two relays?

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3. Where is the 02 Sensor located? I figure I change that as well. I just don't know the location of it, or part #.

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4. Last but not least, I also read the MAF differs. 305 MAF is different from a 350 MAF. My question re. this is, how can I tell which MAF I currently have on the vehicle? Anyone have any part #'s I could use for reference to see what I may have?


All help is greatly appreciated! I want to get questions 1-3 done since they are the least expensive compared to #4 (If and I do mean IF it comes down to replacing that hellishly expensive piece of GM product). That is assuming I have the wrong one on (hoping I don't)

 

UPDATE:

Today I unmounted the boxes (the connectors that connect to the MAF power relay harness and MAF burn off relay harness), and both harnesses were gunked up pretty bad (chunky n black on the inside). I cleaned both out with a bristle brush and napkin, and now it looks much better. I also did a battery reset as well.

Out of curiousity, would that be enough to trigger a code?


Also, does anyone have a pic on where the O2 sensor may be? I have chilton book, but that thing is so "useful" it's not even funny.

 

O2 sensor is in the drivers side exhaust manifold

 

My GTA has been getting code 36 as well but only like once a week maybe. When it does it my car runs a little ruff, and once even almost stalled out at an intersection. I took my relays off too, and it had alot of that electrical grease in it as well. I tried to clean it out and it stayed off for a few days but it came back. I am going to replace the relay soon, keep us updated on what happens with your car.

 

Beater79TA: Cool, thanks for the tip.

Also...
When/if I go about changing it, what kind of signs should I look for on it to see if it's going bad, or poor working order? Are they obvious?

What kind of torque do I put on it when putting in a new one?


BigBadGTA: Once a week? Does it go on then turn off by itself, or do you do a battery reset on it? Once mine goes on, I usually have to do a battery reset to turn it off. That's the only way mine would turn off.

Seems like this code is one of those weird codes some people have luck with and other's don't, no matter what they do to fix it.

On your relays, were the harness' the same part # or were they seperate #'s? I couldn't really get a glimpse of mine since they were a lil rubbed off/faded. LMK when ya get a chance.

I'll keep this thread updated whenever I get a chance. Would like to get this out of the way and drive the car without seein a silly SES light anytime soon. Gets kinda depressing to see that orange light constantly on despite it being the same code. :/ If you have any news, feel free to update as well.

 

Yeah mine goes off by itself. I drive my car everyday to school, sometimes in the morning it will be on, and when I drive it home its gone and the car runs smooth as silk. I know the depressed feeling of seeing that SES light, I feel it when it happens too lol. I was looking on C4 corvette forums and they all said that the burn off relay going is a common problem. I didn't look at any part numbers, but I can today. I am going to look at the connections on the MAF, and on the relay again to make sure they are good.

 

Common problem eh? Doesn't sound too horrific. Whenever you get the chance, please do post up the part #'s. Many thanks

 

Both relays are the same - internally and externally. The relays are known to go bad after some time due to the contacts internally getting burn marks from working. This is actually normal. If you are getting code 36, best thing to do is replace the relays first if you've already checked the circuits. Would be best to replace both relays at the same time to eliminate any issue with either of them. The relays cost about $15-$20 a piece. The MAF sensor is about $170 or so. If it is the MAF, it would be good to replace the relays at the same time as well. Good Luck with this.

The O2 sensor is on the left exhaust manifold. You can't tell it is bad by just looking at it (unless the wire is broken from it). Might be hard to get it off, but just tighten up the new one the best you can. It's hard to get a torque wrench up in that area, so just go the German way - good'n'tight!

 

well I took the relay off the firewall again today, took it apart, and cleaned all of the grease off the contacts in the relay, and the connector. Then I made sure all of the wires had good connections on the MAF and the relay plug. I disconnected the negative terminal on the battery for about 15 minutes and reset the computer. Then I cruised it around for about and hour today and it drove absolutely perfect the whole time. I hope it stays this way! I love my car, it drives just as good as brand new..

 

Best of luck to ya man. Haven't been able to drive the car this week, as I've been driving the fam. truck around (car is a lil piggish on gas). Check out the thread on the general/tech section. I posted up the same question, and got some interesting responses.

LMK of any news on your car.

 

well the light came back on. Im not messing around anymore, ill just replace the damn relay...

 

Man, that's a bummer to hear. Haven't been able to run the car lately since gas is an issue (making it stretch). What relay went on ya?

 

Well today I replaced the MAF burn off relay. I went to orilleys and they didnt have anything like it listed in the computer for my car. The guy ran the serial off my old relay and found the same one luckily. I payed $12.96 for it total with a lifetime warranty. Just ask for BWD part number R3009 in case you want to replace your relay. No more SES light for me!

 

Bet the car runs stronger too!

 

Sorry for the late response.

BigBadGTA: Glad to hear the car is running good. I gotta gas up the car and go for a lil drive sometime.

As of now, been using the truck as a dd, so really haven't tampered with the car much other than the usual start ups.

 

What truck are you driving that gets better gas mileage than a TPI thirdgen? You could try switching the plugs at the Relays (Swap the "MAF" for "Burnoff") and see if that makes a difference. If no difference, then your problem is not likely to be your relays.

Good luck!

 

Never heard of that method. Would that throw off a code? As for truck it's a 01 silverado. IDK, maybe it's me, but it seems like it gets better gas mileage. lol