For anyone caring to take an educated guess: What would cause repeated failure of the Mass-Air Flow sensor?
The SES light came on a few months ago. As per some diagnostic books I have and as per the recommendation of a mechanic who looked at the car I replaced the MAF sensor. The car ran great for a few weeks, but the same problem has resurfaced.

The unit I installed was used so it could just be bad, but, what else could cause repeated failure of the MAF sensor?



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Brian on Long Island
'99 30th Anniversary TA Conv., #0964, M6, Hurst, No mods
'88 GTA Trans Am, Hardtop, 5.7L, A4, Digital Dash, No mods

 

May want to look at the relays...you could be getting continual burnoff, or more likely, no burnoff.

 

Thanks Mike. I suspected that could be it. Do you know to test/diagnose the burnoff relay?

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Brian on Long Island
'99 30th Anniversary TA Conv., #0964, M6, Hurst, No mods
'88 GTA Trans Am, Hardtop, 5.7L, A4, Digital Dash, No mods

 

what codes are you getting? if its a 36, then its definatley the relay.

 

I don't have the pinout in front of me, but you can do it the short and dirty way....

Pull the aircleaner off the MAF, and start the car and let it run for a bit, then have someone shut it off while you're looking down the throat of the MAF, you should see the wire glow for a second or two.

Maybe someone will post the pinouts on the connector for you, I won';t be able to get to my manual till late tonight, or tomorrow sometime.

 

It starts w/a code 34. According to this TPI book I have it says that if I get a code 34 that I should disconnect the MAF, run the car, and then check the codes again. If I then get a code 33 (followed by the pre-existing 34) then it's definately a bad MAF sensor.

That is exactly what I did. At this moment I have a code 33 & 34.



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Brian on Long Island
'99 30th Anniversary TA Conv., #0964, M6, Hurst, No mods
'88 GTA Trans Am, Hardtop, 5.7L, A4, Digital Dash, No mods

 

This may sound strange, but I was getting a code 34, and when I pulled the MAF sensor off it gave me a 33. Wen the car was cold it would not stay running, it would start then stall about ten times until it got a real crappy Idle.

I was pulling my hair out for about 2 weeks and I finally figured out that it was not my MAF senser but the temprature senser for the computer that was screwing everything up. I replaced the senser and it runs great. Your problem sounds similar, but not exact.

good luck...

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87 Formula 5.1 converted to TPI Yellow/Black
87 Formula TPI (5 Speed) Yellow/Gray

83 Camaro (Parts)
83 T/A (parts)

 

easiest way to do it is what 8 mike 9 said if the burnoff continuously runs it'll kill the sensor in no time try that way first

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87 trans am 350 L98 aluminum heads,LT4 hot cam,slp runners,headers,y-pipe,edelbrock base,hi flo cat,air foil,ported plenum,t-5 tranny w/centerforce clutch and a 3.27 9bolt,ads strip chip,relocated iat sensor,hollowed maf

14.10@97mph w/2.01 60'

 

Thanks to all for your help. This weekend the troubleshooting begins.

I'll let you all know how it goes.



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Brian on Long Island
'99 30th Anniversary TA Conv., #0964, M6, Hurst, No mods
'88 GTA Trans Am, Hardtop, 5.7L, A4, Digital Dash, No mods