New owner of a 1991 Formula, first experience with the TPI. Watched a few intro videos today and discovered my MAF sensor is missing. A little digging revealed I have a MAP instead. Can someone briefly explain the difference and the actual sensor location?

 

MAF meters air entering the engine by measuring the temperature difference of a heated wire. MAP meters the vacuum / pressure present in the plenum. Your MAP sensor should be mounted on the rear passenger side of the plenum.

 

Does the MAP sensor require periodic replacement? Will they fault and throw a code?

 

Any part on a 30 year old car can fail at any time. What issue are you trying to resolve?

 

No issues. I am just getting familiar with the TPI and associated components. My previous experience with collector cars has been with 60's and 70's technology, and while I have owned newer cars, my newly acquired Firebird is my first collector car with fuel injection. I have a lot to learn. Thanks for the replies.

 

Mass Air Flow (MAF). It's on the tube for the air intake to the engine and it is used for the air mass calculations going in engine.

Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP). It's a little sensor that measures air pressure inside the intake manifold. Used on later cars (91-92 ?) when they switched fueling strategy to what's called "speed density" and there is no MAF sensor. The air pressure is used in the air mass calculations going into engine.

Some of the diagnostic codes were used with both systems so it creates confusion if certain codes come up because people think it's related to MAP sensor when it really has a different meaning in the earlier years.

 

I'm thinking '89 was last year of MAF sensors. My 90 has MAP.