Guide - How to clean your MAF sensor.

Goochie · 22-03-2006, 09:06

From time to time you may be prompted by a Brsikoda member or other source to clean your MAF sensor. Symptoms of a faulty sensor can be a reduction in fuel economy, lumpy idle or a fault code logged in the ECU.

If you are not experiencing problems that could be related to the MAF sensor it is best left alone.

Purchase a can of Isopropanol based electrical contact cleaner. Halfords sell it in a yellow/green aerosol can marked as "Electrical parts cleaner". You'll need a small plastic bag without holes, the best choice is a food freezer bag.

1) Open the bonnet and locate the MAF sensor. On the 1.8T Octavia, It can be found at the back right corner of the main plastic engine cover with the other end being attached to the air filter box.

2) Remove the main plastic engine cover by releasing the large rubberised screws.

3) Carefully unclip the electrical connector to the sensor.

4) Remove the screws that hold the cover on the air box and the 2 that hold the MAF to the airbox.

5) Use a pair of latching mole grips to hold the circular clip open on the other side of the MAF to the air box - you need to pinch the 2 tabs together. The mole grips are good because you can leave the clip pinched and keep your hands free.

6) With the clip loose, withdraw the MAF housing from the vehicle. If you look into the housing through the end that has both a plastic and wire mesh protector you will see a small opening in a plastic protrusion at the centre of the housing. This it the "business end" of the MAF and the part which may require cleaning.

7) Place the MAF housing in the plastic bag. Depending on your cleaner you'll have to pour it in from a bottle or sit there spraying an aerosol for ages.

With the bag close around the sensor put enough cleaner in there to half fill the bore of the sensor housing.

8) Hold the bag closed and shake the cleaner around in all directions in the MAF housing.

9) carefully dispose of the cleaning fluid

10) if using an aerosol cleaner it may be worth having a final spray around the sensor.

11) leave the sensor over night to thoroughly dry out.

12) refit to car.

vrswhite · 06-03-2007, 20:28

I'm doing this come the weekend

Basil · 07-03-2007, 15:00

great tip - I had read somewhere IIRC that MAF cleaning is best done when you are sure that there is a MAF problem and are about to pay up for getting it changed in any case. You have nothing to lose if cleaning doesnt work and a new MAF sensor is pretty dear IIRC.

Smithy vRS · 07-03-2007, 15:06

There's no need to leave it over night, Isopropanol will evaporate with in minutes! I've cleaned mine loads of time and it total safe to do it!

b1ackb1rd · 08-05-2007, 13:53

My MAF don't look like that !!

walkie · 08-05-2007, 16:18

Muff?

vrswhite · 19-10-2007, 19:29

i found a link like this in the past but it had pictures, can't seem to find it anyone know where it is ???

grahammcs · 23-03-2008, 12:53

can i follow the same procedure with my tdi??

ocdavia · 23-03-2008, 14:28

tried cleaning mine last week ,still no difference so ordered new bosch maf from AIRFLOWMETRE on ebay shop for 29.90 +p&p for 1.9 tdi (90 hp)

Taxi 219 · 23-03-2008, 16:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by grahammcs

can i follow the same procedure with my tdi??

Yes also applies to TDi,s

jamesmckelvie · 23-03-2008, 18:42

do the muff's appreciate being shook violently in all directions?

22-03-2006, 09:06	#1
Goochie Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Up a tree. Posts: 12,384 Thanks: 7 Thanked 27 Times in 25 Posts	Guide - How to clean your MAF sensor. From time to time you may be prompted by a Brsikoda member or other source to clean your MAF sensor. Symptoms of a faulty sensor can be a reduction in fuel economy, lumpy idle or a fault code logged in the ECU. If you are not experiencing problems that could be related to the MAF sensor it is best left alone. Purchase a can of Isopropanol based electrical contact cleaner. Halfords sell it in a yellow/green aerosol can marked as "Electrical parts cleaner". You'll need a small plastic bag without holes, the best choice is a food freezer bag. 1) Open the bonnet and locate the MAF sensor. On the 1.8T Octavia, It can be found at the back right corner of the main plastic engine cover with the other end being attached to the air filter box. 2) Remove the main plastic engine cover by releasing the large rubberised screws. 3) Carefully unclip the electrical connector to the sensor. 4) Remove the screws that hold the cover on the air box and the 2 that hold the MAF to the airbox. 5) Use a pair of latching mole grips to hold the circular clip open on the other side of the MAF to the air box - you need to pinch the 2 tabs together. The mole grips are good because you can leave the clip pinched and keep your hands free. 6) With the clip loose, withdraw the MAF housing from the vehicle. If you look into the housing through the end that has both a plastic and wire mesh protector you will see a small opening in a plastic protrusion at the centre of the housing. This it the "business end" of the MAF and the part which may require cleaning. 7) Place the MAF housing in the plastic bag. Depending on your cleaner you'll have to pour it in from a bottle or sit there spraying an aerosol for ages. With the bag close around the sensor put enough cleaner in there to half fill the bore of the sensor housing. 8) Hold the bag closed and shake the cleaner around in all directions in the MAF housing. 9) carefully dispose of the cleaning fluid 10) if using an aerosol cleaner it may be worth having a final spray around the sensor. 11) leave the sensor over night to thoroughly dry out. 12) refit to car. Last edited by mannyo; 09-05-2007 at 14:56.

06-03-2007, 20:28	#2
vrswhite Briskodian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: doncaster - yorkshire Posts: 707 Thanks: 4 Thanked 17 Times in 17 Posts	Re: Guide - How to clean your MAF sensor. I'm doing this come the weekend Last edited by DGW; 06-03-2007 at 21:07. Reason: Superfluous quote deleted.

07-03-2007, 15:00	#3
Basil hardcore modder Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Henley-on-Thames Posts: 3,001 Thanks: 170 Thanked 159 Times in 127 Posts	Re: Guide - How to clean your MAF sensor. great tip - I had read somewhere IIRC that MAF cleaning is best done when you are sure that there is a MAF problem and are about to pay up for getting it changed in any case. You have nothing to lose if cleaning doesnt work and a new MAF sensor is pretty dear IIRC. __________________ Fab vRS - Black Magic - PD160 intake - Forge FMIC - colour coded front grille -SLC Splitter - K&N Airfilter -SEAT Strutbrace - Jabba ARB - IC Waterspray (need to wire it in!) - 312mm TT brakes - Eibach Springs - Skoda Reversing sensors - Devonutopia Tuning (tm) Custom Exhaust (2 1/4" straight pipe) - Short shifter mod- 5 brake light mod - Helix Steel SMF + Organic Clutch + pressure plate - Peloquin LSD - TD stage 2 Hybrid - Washbrook remapped ECU - Uprated injectors - Cupra bushes -Poly-filled dogbone - Allard racepipe - Pirelli Dragons - Forge Rear Strutbrace - DIY SS upper boostpipe delete -Koni FSD's - elephant pipe CCV mod

07-03-2007, 15:06	#4
Smithy vRS Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Republic of Ireland Posts: 287 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Guide - How to clean your MAF sensor. There's no need to leave it over night, Isopropanol will evaporate with in minutes! I've cleaned mine loads of time and it total safe to do it! __________________ Tuning engines isn't rocket sciences its just about burning fuel!

08-05-2007, 13:53	#5
b1ackb1rd Briskodian Join Date: May 2005 Location: Midlands Posts: 294 Thanks: 2 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Guide - How to clean your MAF sensor. My MAF don't look like that !!

08-05-2007, 16:18	#6
walkie ............... Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Monday: MK Tuesday: MK Wednesday: MK Thursday: MK Friday: MK/Home Saturday: Home Sunday: In bed ;o) Posts: 6,606 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Guide - How to clean your MAF sensor. Muff? __________________ Having a little break, concentrate on the more important things in life, swmbo and my training. See you soon folks, take care - James

19-10-2007, 19:29	#7
vrswhite Briskodian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: doncaster - yorkshire Posts: 707 Thanks: 4 Thanked 17 Times in 17 Posts	Re: Guide - How to clean your MAF sensor. i found a link like this in the past but it had pictures, can't seem to find it anyone know where it is ???

23-03-2008, 12:53	#8
grahammcs Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 6 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Guide - How to clean your MAF sensor. can i follow the same procedure with my tdi?? __________________ GMS

23-03-2008, 14:28	#9
ocdavia Briskodian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: redruth cornwall Posts: 113 Thanks: 30 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Guide - How to clean your MAF sensor. tried cleaning mine last week ,still no difference so ordered new bosch maf from AIRFLOWMETRE on ebay shop for 29.90 +p&p for 1.9 tdi (90 hp)

23-03-2008, 18:42	#11
jamesmckelvie Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 441 Thanks: 22 Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Guide - How to clean your MAF sensor. do the muff's appreciate being shook violently in all directions? __________________ 1.9 TDI Elegance - Cappuccino Beige Plenty enough power and torque for the economy offered

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Posted By	For	Type	Date
Overclockers UK Forums - My MAF in my hand	This thread	Refback	30-09-2006 16:49
Overclockers UK Forums - My MAF in my hand	This thread	Refback	30-09-2006 16:46

Guide - How to clean your MAF sensor.

Guide - How to clean your MAF sensor.

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