So I'm trying to work a plan for my car... I never knew there were different maf types (digital vs analog) I've been told the 2.8 1987 60* got a digital MAF? that most others are analog?

really? Why on earth?

 

Most of the 60* V6's got those God awful frequency film MAFs that go bad on the average of about every year. I swapped in a Ford MAF and waved good bye to those issues for good.

 

Hmmmm ford swap... gonna check this one out

 

how do you did the swap, maybe a little tutorial? its necesary a repro on the ecm?

 

See this thread.

 

 

I've been on my same frequency film MAF (Strauss Auto remanufacturered) for almost 15 years now; I guess I lucked out. But that's a cool swap idea, if this one ever goes on me, I'll have to check that out.

 

You must have been lucky indeed because those MAFs are terrible. The 165 ECM/Ford MAF swap is well worth the effort. It takes all of about 2 hours to complete (that is burning a new prom chip included).

 

That is backwards, the V6 film ones last forever cause its protected, its the one on the V8 cars that blow out if you look funny at them as its exposed.

I was most apparent in the MAF screen removal fad days, you could remove a V6 screen with a sledgehammer and it still worked. The V8 ones needed surgical precision and then still half went bad.

 

Not what I've seen over the years. The film starts to warp and the car runs like crap even if the maf doesn't fail outright. Hotwire mafs stay more consistent as long as the wire doesn't get contaminated.

 

If the film on the MAF looks like the attached pic, its garbage. The car will not run right. period. See how the orange film looks like a skate board ramp? It is supposed to be flat. This happens quite frequently. The Ford hot wire MAFs do not have this problem as long as the wire is clean. I have seen these MAFs go for 15 years without a failure.

 

this is kind of off topic but how do you guys get those metal maf retainer rings off and on? i broke mine getting it off but i got a new one and i cant get it on now!

 

Actually in my one diagnostic message, this person kept changing their MAF every year which I found incredible: https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/v6/1...af-sensor.html I've seen a mix through the years, probably depends on other things (like manufacture quality, or what abuse (overheating) the car went through).

86ttopbird actually in that picture it looks fuzzy, not like a skateboard ramp. I know what you mean though. And like I said, I lucked out, I've only had 3 MAF's. My original was shattered in 1995 in an accident. Replacement (junkyard) only lasted 2 years- the film got a ripple in it. Then I got this remanufactured one - and it's been fine ever since. OK so I guess that's only 13 years, not 15. I'll let you know in two years what happens.

Regardless it's still an interesting idea to swap for Ford. Although if it came down to me having to make that choice for my car, I'd probably concentrate my efforts on an SD upgrade (unless that's no longer the "hot ticket" around here).

 

It is personal preference really as to whether to go with SD or Mass Air. For me, I prefer to use the Mass Air system. It's what I know how to tune and I like the idea of the ECM being able to directly measure the amount of air entering the engine and not guessing at it by measuring vacuum. The Ford MAF swap is the ticket though. I also have the #15 Ford injectors too. They are disc type Bosch injectors. Really smooths out the idle alot and the acceleration is not choppy like with the old junk Rochesters.

 

I was wondering when someone was going to dig that out... That was my last one before I went and found an AC/Delco MAF on eBay (the store didn't want to take the one before it because the elbow was broken on installation due to not being the right size to fit on the air filter can properly, and this one had the elbow knocked off, after said breaking on installation, for use in my air intake) because I wasn't about to shell out another $80 for one that MIGHT last me another year. That posted a code 33 (finally, right before it went into the trash can) and 45. And yes, it looked like a skate ramp, not like the usual surface of a lake. And no, it wasn't modified, the plastic funnel inside that directs air over the film wasn't there fresh out of the box. That's aftermarket build quality for you .

:edit: I'll be switching to a Ford (not liking the idea, but they work) MAF with the MegaSquirt.

 

Do they have MAF support now?

 

MS2 with the MicroSquirt code can use MAF only, MAP/MAF blend, or MAP with onboard MAP for baro correction... But the MAF has to use an analog voltage signal.

http://www.microsquirt.info/mafmap.htm

 

Interesting way to use a maf! Converts it to VE and uses that for fueling.

 

I had to use Mav's pic because I could not find mine at the moment. Hope you don't mind Mav Anyway, here is the MAF I removed when I did the Ford swap. Same old lumpy frequency film. I am glad I don't have to worry about that crap any more.

 

Looks like you got the same el-cheapo POS parts store "new" MAF I got the last time. I think that if I can find a chance, I'll have to get a pic of what an OEM MAF looks like inside to illustrate the reason why NOT to get an aftermarket, even if the manu says it's "new".