I'm getting code 36 - Mass Airflow Sensor Burn-Off error. How important is the Mass Airflow Burn-off function anyway? Do I really have to fix this issue or can I just live with it? Also, where on god's green earth is the relay for this stupid circuit located?

I've heard that the relay is the same as that used for the fuel pump and then I've heard that it's different. Anyone know what the actual part number is for this thng?

I've converted my 1987 RS from a 2.8 MFPI, that had Mass Air, to a 5.7 TPI with Mass Air (one of the dumbest things I've ever done). I don't even know why the V-8s have this lame function. The 2.8 didn't have it and it worked just fine.

I HATE THE EMISSION LAWS IN CALIFORNIA! If it wasn't for these laws, I'd slap a carb on the engine and be done with it. I mean come on...the car is 20 years old for Christ; GIVE ME A BREAK!!! Now I hear that I have to take it to a referee in order to have it smogged. Will this ever end?!#$@

 

In a chicken it's on the driver's side firewall nest to the other MAF realy and the fuel pump relay.

Some are some aren't. Not off the top of my head.

The MAF there was digital as opposed to analog and was IIRC a thick film variant rather than a hot wire one.

California is ****-liberal land. Thank them.

 

The purpose of the MAF burn off os to clean the sensing wire so that accurate intake air measurements can be taken (Disconnect the MAF on your Z06 and see if it runs better). The burn off cycle doesn't occur every time the engine is run, but only under certain conditions. The cycle is supposed to occur after the engine is shut down, the fuel pump voltage drops to 0, and upon a time delay.

The relay is located along the front of the firewall, adjacent to the brake power booster:



Since there are several relays there, and they weren't always clipped into the bracket in the same order, you need to verigy that you have the correct relay by the wire colors in the connector:



The easiest thing to do is to simply replace the relay. If the MAF power relay is identical, you can switch them to see if the problem is "solved" or changes to an error code '34' afterward. One important note is that the MAF burn off function relies not only on the MAF burnoff relay, but requires that the N.C. contacts of the MAF powere relay are closed. Either or both relays can cause the problem, as well as a few other conditions.

Chances are, you have either a failed relay, poor connection at one of the relays, or poor connection at the MAF sensor itself. It's really not that complicated.

 

Actually, the '87 MPFI should have used a digital (FM) MAF with a hot wire sensing element, and the TPI should have used the analog MAF with hot wire. A factory thick-film (Hitachi type) MAF installation doesn't use a burn-off function, but those were in later years.

Memory can be a cruel beast.

Yes - Don't blame the design. GM didn't institute emission laws, but only tried to adhere to them. Thank all the Jane Fondas and Jill Clayburghs for that.

 

Vader you are awsome! I'll look for it tomorrow when it's light out. Although I'm affraid that it won't be where it's supposed to be on account of the whole conversion thing. I had my 2.8's wiring harness modified by the guy from Chevythunder.com to fit my TPI application. He did a great job, but I'm worried that my mechanic may have put the relay somewhere else - case in point: my mass airflow relay is dutyfully labeled by the Chevythunder guy but is currently next to my battery. That's not where it's supposed to be! So, I'll check it out and keep my fingers crossed. Your picture will go a long way.

However, I still don't know whether it's worth the effort. What if I just leave it? The mass air seems to be working fine as is, I don't have any other codes and the car goes into closed loop. What do you guys think?

 

Meh. I never had a tinker toy motor so it was all from memory. I got it all but the thick film/wire element year/thing then. Not too bad, but it doesn't bode well for when I get up to your... um... 'experience' level.

Ebby, while it may run fine now, the wire will become contaminated to the point of detriment with regard to the performance level of your motor. It is worth fixing.

 

What he said ^

 

This is a super basic question to Vader or anyone that understands elec. mubo jumbo more than me. Vader in your post above you state, "One important note is that the MAF burn off function relies not only on the MAF burnoff relay, but requires that the N.C. contacts of the MAF power relay are closed." When you refer to the "N.C. contacts" what does that mean?

I know very simple thanks everyone for the help.

 

On my 88, I get a MAF burnoff every time I shut down the engine. If the hood is open, you can hear the relay click. I occasionally get the same trouble code, it means the burnoff relay has crapped out. It's easy to fix, just replace the relay. The replacement relay is not very expensive and it's located on the driver side firewall. I can change the relay in about 5 minutes. In fact I keep a spare relay and nut driver in the golve box.
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Clearly you are too ignorant to know your political right from left. ***** and Fascists are extreme RIGHT wing, like Bush and the neocon republicans. Why are you not over in Iraq fighting your war, Mr. Neocon, too chicken?

 

N.C. - Normally Closed

...As opposed to N.O. - Normally Open

 

Thanks Vader. I knew it was easy

 

That was uncalled for.


Vader, my 85 MPFI MAF has what looks like a frequency film in it. No hot wire that I can see.. Whats up with that?

 

Well, DUH! If I can understand it, you know it has to be easy...

Toe,

Check the MAF for the 8-digit GM part number or the 10-digit Bosch number - usually something like this:



Through my research, it seems that all '85 TPIs should have had the digital MAF with a hot wire sensor. There is a chance that it has been replaced.

 

Great Info

 

My, my, someone is a bit San-Fran touchy. Clearly you are ignorant of the current usage of the term '****-liberal' (not that the term is new or anything...) or you are all too familiar with it and are politically aligned to the demographic thusly referred to as such.

I didn't call them ***** or facists, I called them '****-liberals'. Additionally, to assume what my politcal stance is from one past regarding the crazy extremism displayed in CA is utterly asinine.