Alright if you want to flame me then go ahead.

I recieved some very good info from this board that has helped to get started working on this new fangled car . (87 GTA, 5.7) I am used to 1st and second gens. Just as a side note the engine compartment looks like someone opened up the Christmas Tree lights box and threw it all over this engines. I have never seen so many wires, relays switches etc.

Okay now for the question

I went thru and detailed out the engine compartment (part of me wanted to take wire cutters and really get after it) Detailing entailed using Seafoam on the engine compartment, then I power washed and used an engine bright spray. I also went thru and cleaned and oiled the K&N air filter.

After that the SES went on. I pulled a code 36. Using the formula of the easiets/less expensvie, I replaced the MAF burnoff Sensor. Now it is pulling a code 33. Doing a search I could

1. Buy a new sensor
2. Try cleaning the sensor.


Now I could do either 1 or 2, but here in lies my problem Where the F is the MAF sensor located at.

Go ahead put your head down, go left, go right, smile and think what a dumb a$$.

By the way I have read about the over oiling and washing down the engine amy ruin the MAF.

 

I'd suggest checking the electrical connection on the underside of the MAF for water first, then swapping your BurnOff relay with the MAF power relay...at the same time checking for water and such that may have gotten in on the wash.

Would have been tough to get water/cleaner into the MAF (IMO) as long as it was still secured in the boot and on the filter.

 

Thanks for the help. I replaced the relay closest to the divers side fender. Now swap the the Burnoff sensor and the Power senser?? Are you suggesting swapping the connections

Where is the power sensor?

and again where is the MAF

 

I'm suggesting swapping one relay for the other, and seeing if a different code pops up...i.e if you have a 33 now, maybe a 36? MAF code will come up, or vice versa...meaning you may just have a relay issue.

The relay shuld be next to the one you replaced on the firewall, along with the fuelpump relay and ESC Module.

 

The MAF sensor itself is in line between the air intake (where it comes in the front of the car) and the throttle body. It will look like a plastic tube with a small box and wires attached to it.

This may be jumping the gun, but there are some very good checks that are posted on this site to see if the MAF sensor is working.

There are a few things that can go wrong that throw a code 33, not necessarily the MAF sensor.

The car I have is on its third sensor now. We gave up taking it in for service (the first thing they want to do is replace the sensor) and have been doing our own checks, adjustments, etc. using information from this site. Ours I think was due to a vacuum leak (unless it comes back to haunt us).

I don't think it would be a good idea to try to clean the MAF sensor. They are very delicate.

 

Forgot to mention this is a TPI intake

 

Toolmaker got it for you, I didn't realize at the time you had the Pontiac....to find the MAF, pop the hood and look at the tube coming off the intake...follow it out a until you find the sensor (as TM described)