Your car, truck, or utility vehicle may fail to respond when you try to accelerate because there is a fuel delivery problem, an issue with the acceleration cable, or a problem with the mass airflow (MAF) sensor. We’re going to talk about the mass airflow sensor in this blog post. This sensor is responsible for keeping track of the external airflow into the engine. C&C Automotive explains that acceleration hesitation and a sputtering engine at higher speeds is just one sign that the MAF sensor is faulty. Here are other signs.
Rough Engine Idle
Aside from having problems with your engine’s performance at high speeds, it will also idle roughly if the mass airflow sensor is malfunctioning. This is because the sensor is not providing the correct air inflow data to the engine control module. Consequently, the module may create a lean fuel mixture in the engine that will make it difficult for the engine to sustain operation when you are sitting at an idle.
Engine Surging
If the module creates a rich fuel mixture, your engine will surge forward unexpectedly while you are driving. Many people describe it as feeling as if you are driving a bucking bronco. These increases in speeds tend to be erratic and can happen at any time during your vehicle’s operation.
Reduced Fuel Economy
Whether lean or rich, an unbalanced fuel mixture will cause a reduction in your vehicle’s fuel economy. You will not get the miles per gallon that you normally get when you fill your tank with gasoline or diesel fuel. You will continue to notice a problem with the fuel efficiency until you replace the faulty MAF sensor.
Excess Engine Exhaust
Oftentimes, a rich fuel mixture can also cause excess engine exhaust. The color of the exhaust smoke will be black. This is an indication that the engine is burning fuel. Depending on the amount of exhaust, it may be unsafe to drive your automobile, especially if you see sparks flowing out of the tailpipe.
Hard or No Starting
The worst the mass airflow sensor gets the harder it will be to start your automobile. It’s important to have the MAF sensor cleaned if it is dirty or replaced if it is malfunctioning as soon as possible. Otherwise, you may end up with a dead engine.
C&C Automotive advises that you might also get a check engine warning on your dashboard. This is another common sign of a malfunctioning MAF sensor. There is no need to panic, however, because we have auto service shops in Georgia and South Carolina. Call us today for an appointment.